In Kyla Irwin's final year at UConn, she may be saving the best for last.
Irwin, a senior forward, has carved out a meaningful role coming off the bench for a UConn team that is uncommonly short on experience and will need a reserve (or two) to step up on any given night.
After starting UConn's season opener without attempting a shot, Irwin has gone a combined 7-for-7 in the Huskies' last two games, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Against Virginia on Tuesday, she scored a career-high 13 points, while also collecting six rebounds. Across two games, Irwin has registered nearly half of the point total (20) she did in 2018-19 (48 points).
UConn women use well-rounded effort, career-high nights for Kyla Irwin and Anna Makurat, to beat Virginia, 83-44 �
"The coaches talked about this today, that everyone is either going to have their game or not have their game and we're going to have to have people step up and contribute and do whatever they can to make up for (when) it's just not their day," Irwin said. "So I think that's what we're really focusing on, making sure that the bench can just come in and contribute."
To Auriemma, the senior's performance so far this season reflects a change in approach: While he previously saw Irwin try to do too much on the court or be someone she's not, that's not the case anymore.
"This season, she's completely comfortable like 'this is my role. This is what I can do. This is what I'm good at, and that's all I'm going to do. I'm not going to try to do anything to prove to anybody that I deserve to be here,'" Auriemma said. "And, hopefully, she'll get a tremendous reward out of this. I hope she does. She works so hard, she's a great teammate, and I like to see those kids get rewarded so I was thrilled for her today."
Irwin averaged 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in a career-best 10.3 minutes per game last season. This year, as a senior leader with four years in the program, Irwin offers familiarity with UConn's system, a huge plus as the team's multiple new faces (including two freshmen) continue to find their footing. Auriemma noted Tuesday that the team's ball movement was particularly strong when Irwin was in the game, which she ended with five assists.
"Whenever I go out there, I try to do what I know I can do," Irwin added. "I don't want to spread myself too thin and try to do too much, just go out there and just help in any way I possibly can. And whether that's a two-minute break for someone or whatever it is, just making sure I can do what I do."
With her career winding down, Irwin is mindful of the bigger picture.
"I came here for a bigger reason than just basketball and I think that that has helped me get through some of the tough days and some of the great days," Irwin said, "but just knowing that I'm becoming something more as a person, being involved with this, I think that's been something that's been like a core thought in my head that gets me through.
"I can feel myself, how much harder I work as a person in all aspects, how much I want to do more for other people. I think just those little things, paying attention to detail and mainly like the work ethic, I'm definitely going to carry on for the rest of my life."
