UConn G Ryan Boatright (11) shoots a three-pointer in the second half against Central Connecticut at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

It was in a way a game of teacher versus the student. Or you could say it was the recruiter, Howie Dickenman, against the former recruit/player, Kevin Ollie. Their teams are mirror images of their styles.

And after a little wake up call from their head coach in the first half, the UConn Huskies seized control of the game with a 13-0 run and then a 20-2 run to start the second half. In the end, it was a UConn winning 81-48 over the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 81-48 in front of 13,315 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on Sunday afternoon.

The Huskies improve to 6-4 while the Blue Devils drop to 2-10.

Ryan Boatright led a balanced UConn scoring attack with 18 points with backcourt mate Rodney Purvis chipping in with 14. Amida Brimah added 12 points while Omar Calhoun came off the bench to score 11.

Kentan Facey picked up his first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Daniel Hamilton added a team-high six assists along with six points and seven rebounds.

Greg Andrade was the only CCSU player in double digits with 13 points. Matt Mobley added nine while Faronte Drakeford had eight and Brandon Peel finished with seven. Corey Barrett led the Blue Devils in rebounds with seven while scoring six points.

UConn is back on action on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve afternoon, when they’ll open up American Athletic Conference play against the Temple Owls at the XL Center. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Central Connecticut State Blue Devils @ UConn Huskies 12/28/14 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.

Here are UConn’s postgame notes.

photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team have a big game coming up on Monday night against the Duke Blue Devils. But first they had some business to take care of on Saturday afternoon as they opened up American Athletic Conference play.

The SMU Mustangs were the opponent and by about 10 minutes into the first half, the game turned into a glorified scrimmage as the Huskies went on to a very easy 96-45 win in front of 9,972 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

UConn improves to 9-1 (1-0 American) while the Mustangs fall to 4-8 (0-1 American).

Moriah Jefferson led the Huskies with a career-high 24 points and had five steals. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis moved into second place all-time for three-pointers made as she hit three on her way to 19 points and six assists.

Kia Nurse added 13 points and seven assists with Morgan Tuck chipping in 12 points. Gabby Williams rounded out the Huskies in double-figures with 11 points and she pulled down seven rebounds.

Breanna Stewart had a rough game from the floor (2-of-9) and free throw line (2-of-4) for six points but had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Alicia Froling, Keely Froling and Raven Short all led the Mustangs with seven points. Destynee Hives-McCray had six points before fouling while Aurmani DeGar had six points as well. Gabrielle Wilkins led SMU with five rebounds.

Just one day of rest for the Huskies with the Blue Devils coming to town on Monday night at the XL Center. Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m.

SMU Mustangs @ UConn Huskies 12-27-14 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma.

Here are UConn’s postgame notes.

photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune

UConn G Rodney Purvis (44) follows through on a big three-pointer over Columbia G Steve Frankoski (5) in the second half at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT.

It was almost time to go home for the holidays for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team. And for a bit, it looked like they had mentally gone home.

That’s not to take anything away from their opponent, the Columbia Lions. They were a very talented team.

They did their best to hang with UConn but a big run at the end of the game gave the Huskies an 80-65 win over the Lions in front of 9,124 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT on Monday night.

UConn improves to 5-4 while Columbia falls to 6-4.

Rodney Purvis broke out of his slump to lead the Huskies with 21 points on seven-of-eight shooting, including four-of-five from three-point land. Ryan Boatright added 20 points and eight assists while Amida Brimah had 14 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Daniel Hamilton rounded out the Huskies in double-digits with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Columbia’s Maodo Lo led all scorers in the game with 24 points. Luke Petrasek added 10 points while Jeff Coby and Steve Frankoski had nine and eight points respectively. Kyle Castlin led the Lions with six rebounds.

UConn will return to practice on Friday to prepare for their next game, this Sunday. They’ll take on the Central Connecticut Blue Devils at the XL Center at 1 p.m.

Columbia Lions vs UConn Huskies 12/22/14 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.

Here are UConn’s postgame notes.

photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team was getting ready to head home for the holidays. But first they had some business to take care of in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Holiday Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on Sunday afternoon.

Their opponent, the UCLA Bruins, didn’t prove to be that much of a match as UConn went on to an easy 86-50 win in front 8,015 and a nationally televised audience.

The Huskies, who will head home for the holidays for a few days, improve to 8-1. The Bruins fall to 4-6.

Breanna Stewart led UConn with 22 points and five blocked shots. Gabby Williams came off the bench to add 12 points and seven rebounds while Kia Nurse had 11 points and a team-high six assists. Morgan Tuck added 10 points and six rebounds.

Kiah Stokes, whose father said all he wanted was a double-double on Sunday from his daughter, gave her dad what he wanted as she had 10 points and 10 assists.

Kari Korver, cousin of NBA player Kyle Korver, led UCLA with 14 points. Jordin Canada was the only other Bruin in double digits with 12 points. Monique Billings paced the Bruins with six rebounds to go along with five points.

The Huskies will return back to action on Saturday afternoon when they begin American Athletic Conference play as they’ll host the SMU Mustangs at the XL Center. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.

UCLA Bruins vs UConn Huskies 12/21/14 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma.

UConn F Breanna Stewart (30) fights for position against DePaul G Brittany Hyrnko (12) as she awaits a pass from Moriah Jefferson (4) in the second half at Webster Bank Arena.

The past four games or so, UConn Huskies women’s basketball All-American Breanna Stewart hadn’t quite been herself.

Sure the team was winning, but Stewart wasn’t being Stewart. The one that was aggressive all the time, having the offense flow through her, scoring lots of points, etc.

On Friday night in the 98-64 win over the DePaul Blue Demons, Stewart had 21 of her 25 points in the first half and looked like the old Stewart we all know.

Watch and/or listen below as head coach Geno Auriemma, Stewart and Kia Nurse talk about the difference in Stewart’s play.

photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune