Abrosimova Saves No. 1 Connecticut

Svetlana Abrosimova made a three-pointer with 1:03 remaining to help No. 1-ranked Connecticut hold off sharpshooting Kentucky, 68-62, in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge at Hartford, Conn.

Connecticut (2-0) played most of the game without Coach Geno Auriemma, ejected after his second technical early in the first half.

After several lead changes in the second half, Connecticut guard Sue Bird broke a 57-57 tie with two free throws with 2:22 to play.

Tiffany Wait made a tying jump shot for Kentucky with just under two minutes left, but Shea Ralph’s jump shot gave the Huskies a 61-59 lead.

After a Wildcat turnover, Ralph found a wide-open Abrosimova for the three-pointer. Abrosimova then made two key rebounds as she and Ralph each made a two free throws down the stretch.

“Our intensity level just skyrocketed,” said Ralph, who led Connecticut with 17 points. “It was a high we haven’t felt in a long, long time. It was like we won a national championship.”

The ejection was Auriemma’s first since 1992. The Wildcats extended their lead to 35-31 at the break. “It’s hard because we’re asking our players to keep their composure under a lot of adversity,” Auriemma said. “I really didn’t set a good example.”

Abrosimova finished with 15 point. Erica Jackson had 18 for Kentucky.

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No. 14 Old Dominion 68, Clemson 57--Lucienne Berthieu scored 18 points as the Lady Monarchs defeated the Tigers in the other first-round game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge at Hartford, Conn.

Berthieu had six points in a 13-2 run over the last four minutes to help Old Dominion (2-0) pull away. The Lady Monarchs will play Connecticut in the championship game Friday.

Old Dominion shot 34.5% in the first half, but then found the range and sank 61% after the break. That helped the Lady Monarchs overcome 23 turnovers in the game.

Amirah Leonard, formerly of Crescenta Valley High and Ventura College, scored 25 points for Clemson (2-1), including 19 in the second half. She scored nine points in a 20-6 run to pull the Tigers within 51-49.

Berthieu had 10 rebounds for Old Dominion, which outrebounded Clemson, 45-31.

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No. 15 Illinois 80, Duquesne 54--Allison Curtin scored 16 points and the Illini scored the game’s first 13 points in beating the Dukes at Pittsburgh.

Duquesne closed to 24-14 with 5:23 remaining in the first half, but Illinois went on another run and ended the half with a 36-20 lead.

Melissa Parker added 11 points for Illinois. LynnDee Howell and Oxana Shetko had nine points each for the Dukes.