The UConn Huskies started the Big East portion of their schedule with a sound trouncing of the Villanova Wildcats 88-38 in Philadelphia on Thursday night. It was the 22nd win over Villanova in the last 24 meetings as UConn improved to 12-0 with sophomore Tina Charles and freshman Maya Moore notching double-doubles.
The game started out pretty even as Villanova hung tough early in the first half but after having tied the game at 10-10 the Huskies went on a 37-5 run to finish the half with a 47-15 lead.
Charles started the spurt with a jumper, and five different players followed with baskets. Senior Mel Thomas nailed a 3-pointer to make it 29-12, and Charles’ layup gave the Huskies a 23-point lead.
The second half was much the same as UConn methodically pulled away with good shooting, an aggresive zone defense that limited ‘Nova to 27% from the floor and a dominating rebounding differential as the Huskies outrebounded the Wildcats 57-17.
Villanova and their style of play where they look for a three or run the shot clock down within a few seconds of expiration was no match for UConn as the Huskies turned Wildcat misses into rebounds and points at the other end.
The Huskies put 4 players in double figures with Charles having 19 points and 11 rebounds, Thomas put in 16 points, Moore had 12 points and 11 rebounds and junior Renee Montgomery chipped in with 11 points as they stayed one of three undefeated teams left in the country.
The Wildcats were led by Maria Getty who had 12 points, Stacie Witman had 10 points and Siobhan O’Connor added 8.
Notes and Musings:
UConn is 21-5 in Big East openers, it is the 5th straight year they opened on the road.
The last time UConn lost a Big East opener was 1992, CPTV’s Megan Pattyson-Culmo was a member of that team.
This was a homecoming game for UConn sophomore Meghan Gardler who played her high school basketball in Philadelphia for Cardinal O’Hara. She had about 50 family members and friends at the game.
CPTV interviewed incoming UConn freshman Elena Delle Donne and Caroline Doty during the second half. Delle Donne has been battling mono and should be able to play shortly and Doty had surgery for a torn ACL and should be able to play again in May or June.
