UConn women's team honors Newtown victims

The Connecticut women's basketball team held a pregame ceremony Wednesday in memory of the 26 shooting victims from Sandy Hook Elementary School in nearby Newtown.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut women's basketball team held a pregame ceremony Wednesday in memory of the 26 victims from Sandy Hook Elementary School in nearby Newtown.

There was a moment of silence before No. 2 UConn's 97-25 win against Oakland at the XL Center. Holding 26 lighted candles, Huskies players and cheerleaders formed a circle at midcourt. Members of the Governor's Foot Guard of Connecticut were also part of the tribute.

"I don't know that you can either be on the court or be in the stands and be a part of that ceremony and not be affected by it," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "That's something that the younger you are, the more you're affected by it."

Huskies players wore small patches on the front of their game jerseys with the letters "SH." The letters were white with a green background, the school colors at the elementary school located about 50 miles away from the XL Center and about 75 miles from UConn's campus in Storrs.

In addition, UConn bench personnel and others associated with the game wore special green and white ribbons.

Oakland also honored the 26 individuals. Players each attached a green ribbon to the laces on their sneakers, and coaches and team staff wore green and white ribbons on their jackets or sweaters.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.