CHICAGO – Geno Auriemma insists Connecticut’s latest winning streak is only part of what the talented Huskies are trying to accomplish.
“We didn’t come out to play the streak or anything else. My kids have been loose, having fun and enjoying themselves. I don’t think they concerned themselves with the streak,” Auriemma said Wednesday night after the top-ranked Huskies routed DePaul 95-62 for their 63rd straight victory.
“I’ve already been down this road,” said Auriemma, whose teams from 2001-2003 won 70 straight. “I try not to get involved in any of that stuff. I’m actually waiting for the loss. I told the team I don’t care if we have one loss or 10 losses as long as it’s not the last game of the year.”
Tiffany Hayes and Tina Charles scored 19 points apiece in a balanced scoring attack and UConn’s defense forced 25 turnovers.
The Huskies (24-0, 11-0 Big East) used a late spurt to build a 20-point halftime lead and then went on an 11-1 run to open the second. All of Connecticut’s wins during its streak have been by double digits.
Hayes hit a long three-pointer at the first half buzzer and then started the second half with another three. And when Charles scored six straight points, the Huskies opened up a 30-point cushion early in the second half. They led by as many as 38 in the second half.
Maya Moore added 14 points for UConn.
No. 3 NEBRASKA 67, KANSAS 60: Kelsey Griffin scored 17 points as the Cornhuskers remained unbeaten with a surprisingly tough, hard-fought victory over injury-weakened Kansas in Lawrence.
N
o. 6 XAVIER 63, SAINT JOSEPH’S 56: Amber Harris steadied the Musketeers through some bad stretches on offense, scoring 23 points off an assortment of moves to the basket, in Cincinnati as Xavier earned its 10th straight victory.
No. 12 OKLAHOMA 62, No. 11 BAYLOR 60, OT: Amanda Thompson had 19 points and a career-high 19 rebounds and Nyeshia Stevenson banked in a runner in the lane with 14.5 seconds left in overtime to the Sooners in Norman, Okla.
TEXAS TECH 57, No. 13 TEXAS A&M 54: Ashlee Roberson scored 25 points to help the Red Raiders over the Aggies in Lubbock to snap a six-game losing streak.
No. 14 TEXAS 74, COLORADO 50: Ashleigh Fontenette scored 13 points, Cokie Reed added 12, and the visiting Longhorns notched their fourth consecutive win.
No. 16 GEORGETOWN 66, PITTSBURGH 63: Monica McNutt scored 17 points and Jalessa Butler added 16 – all in the second half – including a tie-breaking jumper with 37 seconds remaining to help the Hoyas win in Pittsburgh.
No. 25
ST. JOHN’S 91, LOUISVILLE 56: Shenneika Smith scored 21 points to lead a balanced Red Storm offense in New York. With a major winter storm blanketing the area, the game was moved up five hours. Even with free admission, there was a sparse crowd of about 200, which included the Red Storm men’s basketball team.
INDIANA WESLEYAN 75, SAINT FRANCIS 73: The Cougars dropped a big conference game on the road. Saint Francis (16-10, 10-3 MCC) got 33 points and 10 rebounds from Bessie Jenkins and 12 points from Kayla Mullins. Indiana Wesleyan improved to 22-5 and 11-2 in the MCC.
MADONNA 60, INDIANA TECH 59: Madonna’s Heather Pratt made a three-pointer with 0.4 second remaining to beat the visiting Warriors. Indiana Tech (10-17, 3-8 WHAC) got 19 points from Julie Stetzel and 13 points and 14 rebounds from Amanda Tipton.
HUNTINGTON 67, GOSHEN 55: Jenna Donaldson’s 21 points led the visiting Foresters to the win. Sarah Miller added 17.
CALVIN 75, TRINE 49: The visiting Thunder was outscored 43-21 in the first half en route to the big loss. Kristen Julian and Danielle Senf each scored 10 points for Trine (10-12, 6-8 MIAA).
MANCHESTER 60, BLUFFTON 57: The host Spartans got 16 points from Ashley Poe in the close loss. Manchester dropped to 5-17 and 5-8 in the HCAC.
GRACE 66, SPRING ARBOR 52: Demetria Eley came off the bench to lead the host Lancers with 14 points. Kayla Skaggs added nine points and 10 rebounds.
