| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- It only gets harder for Connecticut. That's
what happens when you win your NCAA tournament opener by 71.
The top-ranked Huskies routed Hampton 116-45 Friday night in the
NCAA East Regional, matching the tournament record for most points
in a half with 65 in the opening 20 minutes.
"It's hard to beat us when we're playing really, really well,"
UConn coach Geno Auriemma said after his team reached triple digits
for the eighth time this season. "And we played really well
tonight. The talent we have and Hampton has is unfair. These games
have a tendency to be one-sided. At times, it's unfortunate."
Hampton (16-15) had just one player taller than 6 feet, and
UConn (31-1) ran off to a 25-4 lead, getting most of its points in
transition.
All-American Shea Ralph had nine points in that run, all on
breakaways. She led the team with 20 points and was one of six
Huskies in double figures. UConn's reserves contributed 52 points.
Hampton had trouble from the start running with the stronger,
faster and deeper Huskies.
"I knew we were going to be in a fight, and that's what we were
in," Hampton coach Patricia Bibbs said. "It was a very hard
game."
Frustrations began to surface late in the first half. Hampton's
LaShondra Dixon drew an intentional foul when she and Ralph got
into a shoving match.
"A lot of teams try to get under our skin, but after we start
laughing in their face, they quit," Ralph said.
Dixon said the pushing was mutual.
"She had been pushing me, so I pushed back," said Dixon.
The Huskies had 39 points off 27 turnovers and finished with 17
steals. The taller Huskies easily dominated the boards 44-28.
All-American Svetlana Abrosimova and reserves Paige Sauer and
Tamika Williams had five rebounds apiece. Hampton's Felicia Bryant
had a game-high 10 boards.
The 16-seeded Lady Pirates, winners of the Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference tournament, were making their first appearance in the
tournament. The Huskies have made the last 12 NCAA tournaments and
won their only national title in 1995.
"I'm very proud of my young ladies," Bibbs said. "They played
extremely hard. They did not give up and I know that we played an
outstanding team. It was an experience for us."
Dixon had 15 points and Kiandra Poteat scored 10 for the Lady
Pirates.
UConn plays ninth-seeded Clemson in a second-round game Sunday.
The Tigers advanced earlier Friday by beating Drake 64-50.
| |
ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Hampton NCAA Team Report
Connecticut NCAA Team Report
|
