UConn's second-ranked women's basketball team begins a three-game road trip today, but the Huskies won't have to travel very far.

The University of Hartford, coached by former UConn great Jen Rizzotti, welcomes UConn to Chase Family Arena (1 p.m., SNY), where a sellout crowd of over 4,000 will match the two state rivals hook up in a pre-Christmas treat.

UConn (9-0) returned from a 13-day exam break to rout Oakland (Mich.) on Wednesday night, 95-25, while the Hawks, whose roster include former Montville all-state forward Nikkia Smith, are 8-2. Smith, a 6-foot-1 senior, has come off the bench to average 10.5 and 5.0 rebounds per game.

She is certain to be tested by a UConn frontcourt that includes 6-5 center Stefanie Dolson (11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds), 6-4 freshman Breanna Stewart (15.8, 7.2)) and 6-0 forward Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (15.9, 5.3).

The Huskies, however, will be without freshman forward Morgan Tuck (right knee bruise) and sophomore center Kiah Stokes (right shin stress fracture) for the second straight game, although both could return when UConn resumes its road trip next Saturday on the west coast against top-ranked Stanford in Palo Alto . The Huskies also play at Oregon on New Year's Eve.

- Day staff reports