Storrs — UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma would rather not entertain the thought of playing even one game without sweet-shooting All-American Katie Lou Samuelson. However, if the foot injury Samuelson suffered in the first half of Friday's home opener does sideline her, Auriemma has a fairly impressive option to insert into the starting lineup.

All Azurá Stevens did in her last full season of college basketball was lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding and blocked shots while ranking second in scoring during the 2015-16 season at Duke. After having to sit out last season because of NCAA transfer regulations, Stevens has averaged 9.5 points and five rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game off the bench in UConn's first two games.

If Samuelson is unable to play when No. 15 Maryland comes to the XL Center on Sunday (1:30 p.m., ESPN) to square off with top-ranked UConn, Stevens figures to make her first start for the Huskies.

"We are not a one-person team, a two-person team, a three-person team, so she is down for right now and we are all going to step up and help in any way," Stevens said.

Stevens showed signs of rust during the preseason and in the first game and a half of the season, but in the second half of Friday's win she had 11 points, three assists and two steals.

"I try not to be nervous but I can't help it really," Stevens said. "I definitely think I felt a lot more comfortable in the second half because I was playing basketball. That is all I need to do is play as hard as I can and help the team in any way. I am trying to remain patient in getting back into the flow of things. I have to remind myself that even though I know how to play. I have been out for a whole year so there are going to be a few moments when things just might not click."

Auriemma recently had a conversation with UConn's reserves about not getting frustrated if things aren't happening as quickly as they would like since it takes time to get adjusted to the college game. Stevens had an interesting reply to Auriemma during that meeting.

"Most kids will say, 'it is going to take you a year or so to get caught up,'" Auriemma said. "We do a lot of intricate stuff here at Connecticut, a lot of stuff that you have to pick up and (Stevens) said, 'that is OK for our freshmen but I don't have that much time, I only have two years to play.' She will catch up quickly and you will see that every game that we play, she will get better and better."

Although Maryland lost its top three scorers, the Terrapins are annually among the national leaders in rebound margin. UConn has been outrebounded in each of its first two games and dating back to the 1997-98 season, the Huskies have never started a season by being outrebounded in the first two contests.

"I think that is an area that we are trying to grow in so making sure every possession we are hitting the boards and put pressure on them to actually box us out," Stevens said.