Charles Ties Block Record

By: Kevin Meacham

Posted: 1/29/07

It's no coincidence Tina Charles' best game in a UConn uniform came after a bit of prodding from her head coach.

"Coach is always asking her 'Tina, do you block any shots?," said Brittany Hunter, sitting next to the beaming freshman. "After today, he can't really say that any more.

"We have, what? Three centers?" said Geno Auriemma after Friday's practice. "I guess we'll just keep running centers out there and see what happens. You figure one of them should be having a good day."

At least for one day, Auriemma's motivation seemed to work, as Charles put up her best all-around numbers of the season, nearly notching the second triple-double in the history of UConn women's basketball.

Charles' 12-point and 10-rebound night wasn't terribly flashy - her points came mostly from put-backs off offensive rebounds and a couple lay-ups on great passes from Charde Houston - and indeed those numbers are near her average (11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds).

But it was her nine blocks, tying the all-time UConn record and setting a Big East freshman record, that drew everyone's attention.

"Yeah, that was good," said Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw. "We haven't seen that kind of athletic ability, except for when we played Tennessee. That's something you can't really prepare for."

"It changed the game a lot," said Notre Dame forward Erica Williamson. "It's hard, because you have to change your game a little bit instead of playing your own game."

"She might have had 12 or 13 blocks if we didn't foul the kid right before the shot," Auriemma said. "I thought this was her best defensive game, not because of the blocks, but because she was in the right place at the right time defensively."

Charles recorded her first two blocks before subbing out at the 13:31 mark of the first half. Her next stint saw her pick up 3 blocks in just over two minutes. Her final four came in an eight-minute stretch to begin the second half.

When Charles blocked Ashley Barlow's lay-up with 14:30 left in the game and UConn leading 37-28, she tied Kelly Schumacher in the 2000 national championship game and Rebecca Lobo in 1995 for the most blocks in UConn history.

"I was aware of it after the game when I was told about it," Charles said. "I just think it's cool."

She had an opportunity to break the record - as well as pick up UConn's second triple-double ever, after Laura Lishness' 14 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in 1989 - with a block later on in the second half, but a foul was called before it could be recorded.

What has been remarkable about Charles' season has been her consistency. In 14 of the Huskies' 20 games, the center has finished with double-figures in either points or rebounds. In six of those 14, Charles recorded a double-double.

She credited help defense for her gaudy block totals, which expanded her team-leading total to 42, or 2.1 per game. That number is good for second overall in the Big East.

"I don't really work on it that much," Charles said. "When someone brings her girl towards me, I'm just going to try to block her shot."

Charles will likely be named the Big East's Freshman of the Week Monday, marking her fourth such award this year.