Freshman Hayes comes up huge in win over Cal

TRENTON, N.J. - When Tiffany Hayes came off the court with one minute, 10 seconds left to play in the second half, the freshman guard received a big hug from teammate and roommate Caroline Doty after finishing the night with 28 points and seven assists, both career-highs to help lead UConn to a 77-53 victory over No. 4 seed California in the Sweet 16.

Hayes took Doty's spot in the starting lineup five games after the fellow freshman went down with a season-ending ACL tear Jan. 17 against Syracuse. She said the performance was all the more special because of their tight relationship.

"Me and her, we're really close and I feel like that I have stepped in and taken her place and I have to do well," Hayes said. "She's definitely my motivation for all of that. Being that we're roommates, she's always telling me, 'you better do good, you better do good,' and I'm always telling her 'I'll do it for you. It's for you, don't worry.'"

The 28 points were the most ever for a UConn freshman in the NCAA Tournament. Hayes scored on a combination of hard drives to the basket, often drawing hard contact or fouls and spot-up 3-pointers against the California defense, which left her wide open for most of the game.

While she typically thrives on her confidence, Hayes said that she came in feeling the most nervous she has at any point all season. Doty, however, had a special message for her before the game.

"She said, 'You better go out there and knock down those threes; if they leave you open, you better knock down every one,'" Hayes said.

Hayes had just one miss all game, which came on her first attempt, a 3-pointer. After that miss, Hayes caught fire against the Bears, converting all nine of her field goals for the rest of the game and knocking down five 3-pointers. In the first half alone, Hayes matched California's leading scorer, Ashley Walker, with 16 points.

The scores came at critical times, too. With UConn trailing 9-7 early in the first half, Hayes made back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Huskies ahead 13-9. Later, after UConn had battled back from being down 31-23 to pull within one point, Hayes attacked the basket hard with a layup and pull-up jumper on separate possessions to push UConn ahead 34-31 - a lead the Huskies would not relinquish.

With each basket Hayes made, her confidence rose. That doesn't mean nerves had completely disappeared, however.

"I was nervous, though, and I'm just cheering," Doty said. "So I was just trying to get her to shoot the ball the way she knows how to."

UConn coach Geno Auriemma said that Doty's injury opened up the opportunity for Hayes, who regularly impresses in practice, to show her true potential - likening the situation to last season when forward Maya Moore was forced to step up her game after the injuries to guards Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene left two big holes in UConn's starting five.

"It's funny how things happen," Auriemma said. "If Caroline wouldn't have gotten hurt, we might only see a glimpse of how good Tiffany is because she could've been content to just be like that other guy who's pretty good."

Hayes joined the starting lineup Feb. 3 against Rutgers. Since then, she has scored in double figures on six occasions. The 28 points against Cal snapped a streak of six straight games where Hayes had been held under 10 points.

While Doty has been on the bench in warm-ups for games since her injury, she said it means a lot to have Hayes go out there playing with her in mind.

"I am [still connected to the team], because she's doing such a great job and her playing so well is making me feel like I'm out there with our team," Doty said. "She's always there next to me."

So while she'll continue to cheer for her teammate and roommate from the sidelines, Doty is anxious for next year to get underway when she can finally join her on the court again.

"I can't wait," Doty said. "I've still got three years with her."