Injury report: Lou Lopez Sénéchal, Aubrey Griffin both expected to play vs. Baylor

While both players were limited with injuries in the first round against Vermont, they'll be available on Monday night.

Photo: Ian Bethune

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UConn will have a full roster available for its second round matchup with Baylor on Monday night.

Aubrey Griffin (back spasms) and Lou Lopez Sénéchal (right knee hyperextension) were both limited against Vermont, but they’ll likely be ready to go against the Bears.

“I expect both of them to play tomorrow,” Geno Auriemma said on Sunday. “My hope is that they can play as many minutes as we need them to play and that they can be effective. But they're both going to be available.”

Griffin left UConn’s win over Villanova in the Big East Tournament final with back spasms and only played seven minutes against Vermont. Since the Huskies held a big lead all game, they could afford to keep her on the bench.

“Aubrey’s been battling that back issue and and today, it was acting up a little bit so she got some work done at halftime but I didn’t like the way she looked,” Auriemma said. “I felt like we were going to win the game and there was no sense of urgency to put her in and see if we can get her more rest for Monday.”

Griffin is anxious to return to the floor, though.

“I've been in this position before, I don't like being out,” she said.

As for Lopez Sénéchal, she stepped on Nika Mühl’s foot while running back on defense in the the third quarter and hyperextended her right knee. She subbed out right away and did not return, though the team just decided to be overly cautious.

“I didn’t want to take any chances,” Auriemma said postgame.

“Don’t want to rush anything. We have a lot of games, but I’m all good,” Lopez Sénéchal said postgame. “I’m okay.”

Tip-off between UConn and Baylor is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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