The No. 2 Connecticut women's basketball team and host Hartford honored the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, with youth players from Newtown joining the teams on court prior to Saturday's game.
Members of the Newtown Girls Youth Basketball Association lined up with both teams on the court, holding green signs that said ''WE ARE SANDY HOOK. WE CHOOSE LOVE'' and clutching teddy bears.
There was a moment of remembrance that included the ringing of a chime 26 times in memory of the 20 students and six adults who were killed in the shooting.
UConn’s Bria Hartley, who received two teddy bears from players, said it was meaningful "just to see them out here and enjoying the game.''
''I know they really love watching us play and look up to us," Hartley said. "It means a lot for us to go out there and play our best.''
Coaches and their staffs, and courtside personnel wore green ribbons, the school color at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Additionally, two large paintings of green ribbons with the white letters ''SH'' were on the court.
UConn went on to win the game, 102-45, behind Breanna Stewart's season-high 27 points.
