UConn adds Portugal PG to help fill Bueckers void
Inês Bettencourt, a 5-foot-9 point guard from the Azores in Portugal, will join the UConn women’s basketball team as a freshman,…
STORRS, Conn. — The UConn Huskies added another point guard to its roster on Friday after losing star Paige Bueckers for the upcoming season to a knee injury earlier this month.
Inês Bettencourt, a 5-foot-9 guard from the Azores in Portugal, will join the team as a freshman, the school announced.
“Inês is a true point guard. She loves to distribute the ball and can make shots,” coach Geno Auriemma said. “She’s used to playing in the European style of ball movement, ball screens, lots of 2-man game, 3-man game. I think she’s a tough kid and a great competitor. I’m thrilled that we were able to find her.”
Bettencourt joins 6-3 forward Isuneh Brady and 6-2 forward Ayanna Patterson in the Huskies’ freshman class.
She will provide depth for the Huskies behind junior Nika Mühl, who is expected to start at the point while Bueckers rehabs the torn ACL in her left knee.
UConn announced Aug. 3 that Bueckers suffered the injury in a pickup basketball game, and an MRI confirmed the ACL tear. It was the same knee she injured last year, causing her to miss significant time.
Bettencourt played for Clube União Sportiva in the Azores and recently led Portugal to the championship game in the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship, Division B, in which she averaged 14.4 points.
She becomes the fifth international player on the Huskies, joining Mühl, Aaliyah Edwards (Canada), Lou Lopez Senechal (France) and Dorka Juhasz (Hungary).
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