Maybe it was the pink uniforms for the No. 19/23 Pittsburgh Panthers or maybe it was the emotion of Renee Montgomery having her number put up in Huskies of Honor before the game. I’m going with the emotion.
It was ugly all afternoon for Pittsburgh as Montgomery led the No. 1 UConn Huskies to a 95-42 destruction of the Pink Panthers in front of 9,987 on the WBCA Pink Zone Day at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT.
The Huskies improved to 25-0 (11-0 Big East) while the Panthers fall to 18-5 (8-3) on a day that promoted breast cancer awareness and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Montgomery was one of 5 Huskies in double figures, who also had 3 players put up double-doubles. She had 20 points on a very memorable day for her and her family. Maya Moore had one of the double-doubles with 18 points and 12 rebounds and Tina Charles had one as well with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Tiffany Hayes had 12 points in the second half to finish with 15 while Kalana Greene rounded out the double-doubles with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Another solid game for Meghan Gardler as well off the bench as she finished with 7 points and 3 rebounds.
Shavonte Zellous led the Panthers with 16 points and had 5 rebounds. Xenia Stewart added 8 points and Shayla Scott chipped in with 8 points and a team-high 6 rebounds.
UConn started the game with a 7-0 run before a Scott three-pointer got the Panthers on the board. After that it was all Huskies as they went on a 15-0 run to open up a 22-3 lead. A Zellous jumper ended the bleeding temporarily for the Panthers but this game was over. The Panthers would get only as close as 16 points at 28-12. UConn would close out the half from that point on a 19-9 run to take a 47-21 lead into the locker room.
Pittsburgh would get as close as 23 points in the second half but UConn went for the kill as they went on a 13-0 run to open up a 36 point lead on their way to the 53 point win.
Obviously the honor was huge for Montgomery and I’m sure it inspired her play and her teammates. Maya continues to be Maya and Charles responded again with another great game as did Greene. If both of them continue this and Gardler continues her great play, the gap between the Huskies and the rest of women’s college basketball will not get any closer.
The Huskies head out on the road on Wednesday night as they head to Providence to take on the Friars. Tip is schedule for 7 PM and the game will be broadcast on CPTV.
Notes and musings:
Pittsburgh Panthers @ UConn Huskies 2.15.09 women’s basketball box score
The starting five was Renee Montgomery, Tiffany Hayes, Kalana Greene, Maya Moore and Tina Charles.
The Huskies uniforms were trimmed in pink and they also wore pink sneakers. The Panthers wore pink uniforms.
UConn has won 33 straight regular season games, 36 consecutive regular-season home games and 23 consecutive Big East home games.
They are now 4-0 against ranked teams this season.
This is the 8th time they have opened up Big East play 10-0 since the 1994-95 season.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma will auction a game-worn Brioni tie following each of the Huskies’ February home games to benefit the “Kay Yow Foundation.” The auction can be accessed at: GenosCancerTeam.com.
UConn shot 46.2% (30-of-65) while the Panthers shot 25% (17-of-68).
The Huskies had 22 assists on their 30 made baskets.
UConn shot 8-of-19 (42.1%) while Pittsburgh shot 2-0f-19 (10.5%) from behind the 3-point line.
The Huskies were awesome at the free throw line today as they made 27-of-31 (87.1%).
UConn won the battle of the boards 55-37.
The Huskies committed 12 turnovers while the Panthers had 17.
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