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    UConn Women's Basketball
    Monday, April 29, 2024

    UConn's Saniya Chong getting ready to finish with class

    UConn's Saniya Chong starts the fast break against Tulsa in women's college basketball action Sunday, February 5, 2017 at Gampel Pavilion. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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    Storrs — When Saniya Chong heard the numbers, all she could do was laugh.

    Chong was blissfully unaware that along with fellow senior Tierney Lawlor, she could end up being a part of the winningest class in women’s college basketball history.

    Heading into Saturday’s regular-season home finale against Memphis (4:30 p.m., SNY), the Huskies are 143-1 over the last four seasons and are currently riding an NCAA all-division basketball record 102-game winning streak.

    “When you come in, you never really expect to win so many in a row,” Chong said. “I just think it is so much about what UConn has accomplished over the years and how each year it is a new group. We want the same thing, we all want to be better, we all want to come together.”

    The winning streak may not be the last record Chong is a part of during her time at UConn. A win against Memphis would be the 144th for the senior class which is tied for sixth in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history. The mark for most wins is 151 set by last year’s senior class and a victory would give UConn the top eight marks all time. Barring any upsets, if UConn advances to the Final Four for the 10th season in a row, the seniors will do so as the winningest class in history.

    However, there’s still some work to be done.

    Chong and Lawlor will be honored before the Memphis game as they play in their final regular-season home game.

    “It will be pretty emotional,” Chong said. “We came in together and I wouldn’t want anybody else to walk out with other than T.”

    Chong has had quite the interesting ride. The guard from Ossining, N.Y., played at least 30 minutes on five occasions in her first three seasons, but she is currently in a run of having played at least 30 minutes in the last 13 games. In the last three games, Chong has been off the court for a total of 4:45. With as many as 11 games remaining, Chong has already established career highs for minutes played, free throws made and attempted, assists and steals. She is the national leader in assist/turnover ratio and has improved enough as a defender that she matched up against Temple’s leading scorer Feyonda Fitzgerald in the Huskies’ most recent victory.

    “I want my teammates to trust me so I know that me going out on the floor, I am going to do something for them and if it is not offense, hopefully it is defense,” Chong said.

    Chong realizes that time is running short on her career at UConn. She has attempted to stay in the moment, but there are occasions when she takes time to reflect on the finality of it all.

    “In the preseason for individual (workouts) I said, ‘wow this is my last one, good luck to you guys,’” Chong said with a laugh.

    The full magnitude of what she has been a part of as a Husky usually hits her when she returns home. She sees people taking an extra long look in the direction of the three-time national champion.

    “I think people look at you kind of differently and I say I am a human being just like you guys,” Chong said. “Yeah, I go to UConn but we are all the same.

    “When I am around, it’s just making good choices because you never know. I would say it is trust because when people come up to you and they want to take pictures, it is so cute when little kids come up to you. It is an honor.”

    UConn head Coach Geno Auriemma meets with his senior point guard Saniya Chong during play against South Carolina in the second half of women's college basketball action Monday, February 13, 2017 at Gampel Pavilion. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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