Anytime someone plays the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team, you expect them to give their best effort. Sometimes that endeavor doesn’t always work.

But when you play a team like the Green Bay Phoenix, who won’t back down from a challenge and will basically play anyone anywhere, you really have to work to beat them because they won’t defeat themselves.

A 14-2 run to start the second half got things on the right foot as the Huskies went on to an 89-53 win over the Phoenix to win the Gulf Coast Showcase in front of 3,217 at Germain Arena in Estero, FL on Sunday night.

UConn improves to 5-1 while Green Bay falls to 5-2.

Moriah Jefferson led the way for the Huskies with 19 points and five assists. Breanna Stewart added 17 points and nine rebounds while Tournament MVP Kia Nurse had 16 points and six rebounds. All-Tournament performer Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis chipped in with 13 points while Gabby Williams had another strong game off the bench with 10 points.

UConn placed one more on the All-Tournament Team in Morgan Tuck who had had eight points.

The Phoenix were led by Mehryn Kraker’s 12 points. She was also named to the All-Tournament team along with her teammate Megan Luken who had six points, six rebounds and seven assists. Tesha Buck finished with 10 points.

The Huskies are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they head to South Bend, IN for a matchup with their top rival, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Jimmy V Classic. Tip is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

UConn Huskies vs Green Bay Phoenix 11/30/14 box score

photo credit: brad horrigan – hartford courant