After trailing for a good portion of the game, the #1 UConn Huskies went on a 23-8 run to propel themselves to a 65-59 win over the Syracuse Orange in front of a women’s basketball record 4,221 fans at the Carrier Dome. For the Huskies, it was their 29th straight regular season victory dating back to exactly one year ago and their 11th straight Big East road victory.
Mel Thomas led the Huskies (16-0, 4-0 Big East) in scoring with 15 points before missing the final two minutes of the game with a right knee injury (at the time of this post, the severity of Thomas’ injury is not known). Renee Montgomery added 14 points, including two big free throws down the stretch. After being held scoreless in the first half, Maya Moore scored 13 points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds.
Syracuse (14-3, 2-2) was paced by Chandrea Jones who scored a game-high 18 points. Nicole Michael added 13 points while Erica Morrow chipped in 8 points for the Orange.
It was a see-saw affair in the early parts of the first half as Syracuse got their crowd into the game by scoring the first four points of the game. UConn eventually got a lead at 7-6 on a Thomas 3-pointer. The two teams exchanged baskets and with 10:59 left in the first half, the score was tied at 15. The Orange then grabbed hold of the lead with a 5-0 run. Syracuse eventually go up 9 points at 32-23, their biggest lead of the game. The Huskies cut into the lead on the strength of two Kaili McLaren layups and 5 points from Thomas to go into the locker room trailing 36-32. This was the first time in 15 games this season that the Huskies had trailed at halftime.
The Orange came out of the break and forced a UConn turnover off the inbounds pass. Syracuse scored the first five points to go back up by 9 points. Then the game turned into the Moore show as she finally woke up offensively and led the Huskies on that 23-8 run to retake the lead for good. This game came down the to end as the Orange were able to stay close enough. Ketia Swanier missed two big free throws down the stretch (what do I preach here) but Syracuse was unable to take advantage and Montgomery iced the game with two free throws.
I am not going to speculate on the severity of Thomas’ knee injury but if there was a positive to it, she was right back on the bench and walking, albeit with a limp during the postgame handshakes.
This was by far the worst game, the Huskies have played this season. I fully expect Geno Auriemma to work the girls hard at practice the next few days as they get ready for the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday. Tip-off is schedule for 12 noon and the game will be televised locally on CPTV.
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Notes and Observations:
The starters were Renee Montgomery, Mel Thomas, Ketia Swanier, Maya Moore and Tina Charles.
Swanier’s start was her first since her freshman year approximately 82 games ago.
Brittany Hunter was dressed but didn’t play in the game. Her knee was sore after the Louisville game and with a big game against UNC next Monday, Geno is making sure he has her healthy.
After winning only 9 games last year, the Orange has already won 14 games this season.
Mel Thomas had the highest GPA on the team for the fall semester with a 3.97. Maya Moore had a 3.85, Renee Montgomery had a 3.30, Brittany Hunter had a 3.25 and Cassie Kerns had a 3.0 GPA.
If you were listening to the game tonight on the radio and wondering why Joe D’Ambrosio was doing the color commentary and not Kara Wolters, Wolters hurt her knee at home and Joe D was pinch-hitting for her tonight.
UConn came into the game 273rd in the country in free throw shooting at 63%.
Syracuse was 14-0 at home when leading at the half coming into the game.
UConn shot 40% (24-60) while the Orange shot 38% (23-61).
UConn outrebounded the Orange 54-30.
Syracuse had 16 steals in the game and forced the Huskies into 23 turnovers. The Orange only committed 12.
UConn was 11-of-16 (69%) from the free throw line. As I noted above, Ketia Swanier missed two big ones that could really closed out the game. The Orange were 9-of-18 (50%).
Syracuse’s bench outscored the Huskies 14-13. Kaili McLaren had a season-high 8 of those 13 points.
