When the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team clamps down on its defense, it usually spells doom for the opponent. The Georgetown Hoyas found that out on Saturday afternoon.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis broke out of her slump with 23 points to lead the Huskies to an 80-38 win over the Hoyas in front of a sold-out crowd at Gampel Pavilion.
It’s the 27th straight win over the Hoyas for the Huskies who improve to 23-2 (11-1 Big East). Georgetown falls to 19-6 (8-4). It was also the 99th straight home win for Huskies.
Besides her 23 points, KML had six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Bria Hartley had a nice game with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals while Tiffany Hayes had 12 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Kelly Faris, who was outstanding on the defensive end, had her typical nice all around game with five points, six rebounds and five assists.
Sugar Rodgers was shadowed by Faris most of the game and had 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Rubylee Wright also had 10 points for the Hoyas. Adria Crawford led Georgetown with six rebounds to go along with her two points.
Believe it or not, Georgetown kept this one close early on.
Trailing 4-2, the Hoyas went on a 5-0 run behind a Wright basket and Rodgers three pointer. Hayes tied it back up for the Huskies with a three. After exchanging baskets, KML put the Huskies in the lead with a jumper only to see Wright hit a three to give the Hoyas back the lead.
But that would be the last time Georgetown saw the lead in the game.
KML kicked off the start of a 15-1 run with a jumper to give UConn the lead for good. During that run, the Huskies turned up the defensive intensity and held the Hoyas without a field goal just under eight minutes. UConn would head into the locker room with a 31-18 lead and wouldn’t take long for them to grow that.
Faris and Caroline Doty would hit threes to start the second half and UConn would just continue to build their lead behind some solid offense and great defense.
When UConn is on, they are on. And when they are on offensively, it usually means that they are at their best on the defensive side of the ball too. That was certainly the case for the run in the first half and in the second half when they would build up their lead.
And while they had 14 turnovers in the game, it was certainly better than their previous efforts. While I’m sure that number won’t please head coach Geno Auriemma, he does have to a little happier that the number wasn’t higher.
UConn won’t have too much time to enjoy this one though as it’ll be back to practice and then on a plane tomorrow. That plane will take them to Norman, Oklahoma for a matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners on Monday night. Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
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Notes and musings:
Georgetown Hoyas @ UConn Huskies 2.11.12 box score
Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and Georgetown head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. There are also some quotes from UConn players in the link.
The only team in the Big East that Williams-Flournoy hasn’t beaten is the Huskies.
Stefanie Dolson, Caroline Doty, Heather Buck, Kiah Stokes and Kelly Faris were honored at halftime for achieving a 3.0 GPA in the fall semester. In total, 346 UConn student-athletes were honored.
The starters for UConn were Bria Hartley, Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes, Kelly Faris and Stefanie Dolson.
The Huskies shot 50% (27-54) from the floor for the game. The Hoyas shot 25% (14-56).
UConn had 20 assists on their 27 made baskets.
The Huskies were 8-of-24 (33.3%) on three-pointers while Georgetown was 4-of-19 (21.1%).
UConn went 18-of-26 (69.2%) from the free throw line. The Hoyas were 6-of-11 (54.5%).
The Huskies won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Georgetown 41-34.
UConn outscored the Hoyas 34-18 in the paint and 21-7 on the fast break.
The Huskies had 14 second chance points to 13 for Georgetown.
UConn had 28 points off of 21 Hoyas turnovers. Georgetown had six points off of 14 Huskies turnovers.
Behind Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis’ 23 points, the Huskies bench outscored the Hoyas bench 34-13.
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Photo credit: Brad Horrigan – Hartford Courant (No. 21 in gallery)
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