When you shoot 60% in a game, it’s highly likely that you are going to win. It’s even better when your defense holds your opponent to 32% shooting.
And that’s what Geno Auriemma’s squad did this afternoon as the No.1 UConn Huskies had 5 players in double figures on their way to a 91-43 thrashing of the Rhode Island Rams in front of 10,516 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.
Tina Charles paced the Huskies (3-0) with 21 points and 9 rebounds in just 21 minutes. Freshman Tiffany Hayes came off the bench to add career-highs of 17 points and 7 rebounds while Caroline Doty had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Renee Montgomery also had 14 points and led the Huskies with 5 assists. Maya Moore rounded out the Huskies in double figures with 13 points.
The over-matched Rams (1-2) were led by Megan Shoniker’s 11 points. Sierra Cooper added 8 points and a team-high 6 rebounds. Janae Miller and Sherrie Session both chipped in with 6 points.
Rhode Island actually got out to a 4-2 lead early on in the game but a 17-0 run over the next 5+ minutes gave the Huskies a 19-4 lead. UConn then followed that up with a 24-0 run as they held the Rams scoreless for 7:52 before a Tanja Licina jumper ended that run to make it 51-11 Huskies with 2:52 to go in the first half. The Rams would actually close out the half on a 5-2 run from that point as the Huskies would take a 53-16 lead into the XL Center locker rooms.
The Huskies started the second half out with a 9-0 run and never looked back as Auriemma got a chance to rest his starters in the second half.
Next up for the Huskies is a trip to Utah to take on the BYU Cougars on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 PM EST and the game will be televised locally on CPTV.
Notes and musings:
The starters were Renee Montgomery, Caroline Doty, Kalana Greene, Maya Moore and Tina Charles.
Former Husky Kara Wolters filled in again for Megan Culmo on the CPTV broadcast. Mark Brown also filled in for Bob Picozzi who was away today. It was actually nice to hear a different set of announcers.
Tina Charles was honored before the game for reaching 1,000 points in her Huskies career. She is the third fastest Husky to get 1,000 points behind Nykesha Sales and Svetlana Abrosimova.
This was the 100th game for the Huskies at the XL Center. They are 89-11.
The Huskies now have a 27-game home winning streak between Gampel Pavilion and the XL Center.
The Huskies shot 60% (33-55) from the floor while holding the Rams to 31.5% (17-54).
UConn had 23 assists on their 33 made baskets.
Both teams shot well from 3-point land. UConn was 9-of-19 (47.4%) while Rhode Island was 8-of-19 (42.1%).
The Huskies were 16-of-21 (76.2%) while the Rams only got to the line twice (1-of-2). Much better numbers at the line for the Huskies this afternoon.
The turnover numbers are still concerning for the Huskies as they committed 18 in the game that were turned into 19 points by the Rams.
Rhode Island had 26 turnovers that the Huskies turned into 37 points.
The Huskies won the battle of the boards 38-22.
UConn outscored the Rams 38-6 in the paint.
