The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team may have held a 45-22 lead at the half over the East Carolina Pirates but head coach Geno Auriemma was not happy. And he had good reason to be.
His team had 15 turnovers in the first half alone.
They would come out and play crisper, UConn basketball in the second half as they went on to the easy 89-38 win over East Carolina in front of 4,706 at Williams Arena in Greenville, NC on New Year’s Eve afternoon.
The No. 2 Huskies improve to 11-1 (2-0 American) while the Pirates fall to 9-4 (0-2 American).
After a rough few games scoring wise, All-American Breanna Stewart had 18 first half points on her way to a game-high 26 for UConn. She also had six rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.
Moriah Jefferson’s hot offensive streak continued as she was 8-of-9 from the floor for 16 points with four assists and five steals. Morgan Tuck added 14 points while Kia Nurse had 13 points. Kiah Stokes came off the bench to contribute eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Jayda Pane paced East Carolina with seven points and five rebounds. I’Tiana Taylor, Abria Trice, DeVaughn Gray and Jasmine Phillips all had six points with Trice joining Pane with five rebounds.
Next up for the Huskies is a trip to the Mecca of college basketball, Madison Square Garden, for a matchup with the St. John’s Red Storm in the Maggie Dixon Classic on Sunday. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.
UConn Huskies @ East Carolina Pirates 12/31/14 box score
photo credit: cloe poisson – hartford courant
