Can you imagine what could have been if Tina Charles applied herself on the basketball court her first two years like she’s been doing this year? No, I can’t either.
Charles totally dominated the first half as she put a double-double, including 25 points, to help the No.1 Huskies to a resounding 88-47 win over the No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels in front of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion on Saturday.
It’s the 54th straight win for the Huskies (14-0) and that now ties the Louisiana Tech teams from 1980-82 for the second longest in NCAA Division 1 history. The Huskies teams from 2001-03 hold the longest streak at 70 games. It’s just the second loss for the Tar Heels who fall to 13-2.
Charles also had 13 rebounds, 11 of which came in the first half. Tiffany Hayes bounced back from the ankle injury suffered on Thursday night to finish with 15 points and two assists. All-American Maya Moore had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and led UConn with four assists. Kalana Greene also added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and led the Huskies with three blocked shots.
The energizer bunny, Lorin Dixon, even got in on the action of blocking shots as she had two of her own. Dixon is listed at just 5’4″.
North Carolina stayed with the Huskies early on as they got out to a 10-7 lead. But then the wheels fell off the bus for Sylvia Hatchell’s squad and we saw that total domination by UConn we’ve grown accustomed too.
The Huskies put up their second biggest run of the season, 23-0, to take a 30-13 lead. UConn went into the locker room up by 32 points and never looked back during the second half.
It’s just another win by the Huskies that shows the country they are in a class all of their own. The question remains can anyone stop the Huskies this season? By the looks of what the Huskies have been doing teams, that answer is no.
It’s going to take a perfect game from someone and the Huskies will have to be totally flat for that happen. Can it take place? Sure it can but I highly doubt it will, especially with Geno Auriemma at the helm.
The Huskies get back into Big East action on Wednesday night as they are off to Milwaukee, WI to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. and the game will be broadcast locally in Connecticut on CPTV.
Notes and musings:
North Carolina Tar Heels @ UConn Huskies 1.9.10 box score
The starters were Tiffany Hayes, Caroline Doty, Kalana Greene, Maya Moore and Tina Charles.
The Huskies shot 50.0% (36-of-72) from the floor while the Heels shot 22.4% (17-of-76).
UConn had 18 assists on their 36 made baskets.
The Huskies won the battle of the boards 55-46.
UConn outscored the Heels 58-20 in the paint and 18-8 on the fast break.
The Huskies committed 18 turnovers while the Tar Heels had 23.
The rest of the game notes are courtesy of the UConn Sports Information Department:
With the win, UConn opens 15-0 for the third straight time and the eighth time since 1994-95.
Today’s game marked UConn’s second sellout of the 2009-10 season and marked the 78th at Gampel Pavilion since the 1997-98 season.
With today’s victory, UConn moves to 3-0 against the ACC this season, including wins against Florida State and Clemson.
UConn has won its last 10 consecutive contests vs. ACC opponents with its last loss to the ACC on Jan. 15, 2007 at North Carolina (82-76).
– Following today’s win over North Carolina, UConn extends its win streak to 54 consecutive games, which ties Louisiana Tech (1980-82) for the second longest in NCAA Division I history.
UConn has won each of its last 54 games by a minimum margin of 10 points – an NCAA record.
UConn has defeated its four ranked opponents this season by an average of 24.25 points. (Texas – 25; Stanford – 12; Florida State – 19; North Carolina – 41)
UConn extended its home-court winning streak to 50 straight games, the nation’s longest active streak.
UConn improves to 246-11 playing as the nation’s No. 1 ranked team.
UConn improves to 4-0 this season against ranked teams with previous wins over Stanford, Florida State and Texas.
UConn moves to 220-83 in games played in the month of January.
UConn improves to 294-11 all-time on its home courts since the 1993-94 season.
With today’s victory, UConn extends its winning streak at Gampel Pavilion to 36 games.
UConn improves to 6-4 all-time in the series with North Carolina, while today’s meeting marks the sixth appearance for the Tar Heels in Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies have won 81 games in which they scored at least 80 points dating back to the 2005 season.
UConn has won 13 of its 15 games this season by a minimum of 25 points and has won its last 53 contests by a minimum of 10 points – an NCAA record.
The Huskies boast an 86-18 record in nationally televised contests since 2001-02, including a 3-0 mark this season.
UConn extends its streak of games without back-to-back losses to 592 consecutive games.
UConn is 145-53 in its last 198 games overall against opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 poll.
The Huskies are 67-36 all-time vs. opponents ranked in the AP Top-10.
UConn went on a 23-0 run, its second largest of the season, while holding North Carolina without a single point over a span of 6:46. During the run, Maya Moore and Tina Charles accounted for 19 of UConn’s 23 points.
Tina Charles’ 25 first-half points marked the most by a UConn player in a half since Maya Moore registered 25 against Marquette on Feb. 20, 2008 at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.
UConn outscored North Carolina 46-10 in the paint in the first half.
UConn trailed for a total of 1:16 in the first half.
The Huskies have limited their opponents to no more than 27 points in the opening half in 13 of 15 games this season.
UConn has scored 50 or more points in the first half in eight of its first 15 games this season.
Today’s game marked the first time this season in which three UConn players recorded double-doubles and the first time since Feb. 15, 2009 against Pittsburgh. Tina Charles (25/13), Maya Moore (12/10) and Kalana Greene (11/10)
Maya Moore’s 12 points marked her 15th game this season in double-figure scoring, while it was also the 90th time in 92 career games that she has scored in double-figures.
Maya Moore’s 12 points and 10 rebounds marked her 31st career double-double and her fourth this season.
Tina Charles’ 25 points marked her 98th game in double-figure points.
Tina Charles’ 25 points and 13 rebounds marked her 42nd career double-double and her fourth this season.
Kalana Greene’s 11 points marked her 56th career game in double-figures and her eighth in the 2009-10 season.
Kalana Greene recorded her eighth career double-double and her first of the season with her 11 points and 10 rebounds.
