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NCAA denies UConn’s appeal for Tennessee transfer Evina Westbrook

Connecticut’s Evina Westbrook, center, cheers for her team from the bench during the second half of a women’s NCAA college basketball game against California, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Storrs, Conn. Westbrook, a transfer student, was denied immediate eligibility by the NCAA to play this season. UConn is appealing the decision. (Stephen Dunn / Associated Press)
Associated Press

STORRS, Conn. – The NCAA has denied an appeal from UConn that would have allowed Tennessee transfer Evina Westbrook to play for the Huskies this season.

UConn argued that issues at Tennessee, which fired coach Holly Warlick in March, met the NCAA’s recently revised standards for a waiver of the rule requiring the 6-foot guard to sit out a season.

Westbrook was a co-leading scorer for Tennessee last season. She averaged 14.9 points and 5.3 assists.

UConn said it provided more than 100 pages of supporting documentation and Tennessee didn’t oppose the waiver application.

UConn Athletic Director David Benedict says he believes the system failed.

The fourth-ranked Huskies (1-0) received the news just before their game at Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Westbrook will have two years of eligibility remaining when she suits up for UConn next season.