No. 1 Connecticut Leaves No Doubt

There’s only so much room at the top and for now Connecticut is taking all of it.

Second-ranked Tennessee was supposed to be the first test of the 2001-02 season for the top-ranked Huskies. But the Lady Volunteers wound up being overrun like every other Connecticut opponent, falling 86-72 before 24,611 at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The largest crowd ever to see a women’s Division I game and a national television audience saw firsthand what Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt would call “the gap between number one and number two”--as well as the gap between the Huskies and the rest of women’s college basketball.

Connecticut (16-0) did more than just ride the shooting of sophomore Diana Taurasi, a former Chino Don Lugo High standout who made 11 of 16 shots and scored a career-high 32 points.

The Huskies vexed the Lady Volunteers (11-1) defensively, holding them to 37.5% shooting (27 of 72), and made 57.1% of their attempts (32 of 56). They battered Tennessee on the boards, 41-33, led by forward Tamika Williams with 15 rebounds (and 13 points).

And when Connecticut decided to secure the victory, it did so emphatically. The Huskies were nursing a 47-44 lead with 14:27 left to play and ripped a 27-9 run over the next 7:57 to lead 74-53.

Tennessee, led by Kara Lawson’s 17 points, spent the remaining time trying to make the final score respectable, but still suffered its third home loss to Connecticut in five games at the Thompson-Boling Arena, which opened in 1987.

“We came into the game feeling we had to defend really well and rebound exceptionally well,” Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma said. “I thought Tamika in the first half kept us in the game with her rebounding, and then Swin Cash [16 points, 10 rebounds] took over for periods of time.

“And then Diana, single-handedly at times, did what she is so capable of doing.”

Summitt could understand her youngish team losing to an experienced, senior dominated group like the Huskies, but she was unhappy with the Lady Volunteers’ effort.

“Connecticut was clearly the more aggressive, physical basketball team--at both ends of the floor,” Summitt said. “Their front-court people play with so much energy. Their guard play was terrific; we didn’t have an answer for Taurasi.

“But the one thing that stands out in my mind was how active and aggressive [the Huskies] played the entire game. We were passive and stood around.”

The first 16 minutes were the kind of game expected from the nation’s top two teams. No sustained runs; only six lead changes and six ties while Huskies and Lady Volunteers probed and poked for soft spots in the defenses.

But some things were becoming clear.

Connecticut’s inside combo of Cash and Williams were making Michelle Snow a non-factor. The 6-foot-5 Tennessee center was constantly pushed out of position and never got a clear look at the basket. Snow missed her first five shots and didn’t score until there were 64 seconds left in the half. She finished with 14 points and made only five of 15 shots.

Taurasi, on the other hand, was looking like the coolest player on the floor, whizzing through the Lady Volunteers’ defense with a variety of swooping layups and outside jump shots. She had 15 points at the half as Connecticut took a 47-41 lead. She never let up in the second half, making three timely three-point baskets that kept Tennessee from staging a comeback.

Taurasi said she was motivated by memories of last season’s game at Knoxville, when she fouled out despite 24 points.

“I was glad we won, but last year was miserable; it was the worst feeling ever in that locker room,” she said.

That seems to be a feeling this Connecticut squad is passing on to every opponent.