Streak Goes On for Connecticut
No Taurasi. No problem.
Top-ranked Connecticut cruised to its 62nd straight victory Wednesday night with leading scorer Diana Taurasi on the bench.
The Huskies had plenty in reserve.
Freshman Barbara Turner scored 18 off the bench to lead the Huskies to a 75-51 win over Syracuse. Reserve forwards Ashley Battle and Willnett Crockett combined for 20 points and 20 rebounds, as Connecticut’s post players dominated the much smaller Orangewomen.
“I don’t think anybody plays harder than Syracuse. They’re really tough kids, but the size difference was too great,” Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma said.
The Huskies (23-0, 10-0 Big East) have the longest win streak in women’s collegiate history and are 26 victories shy of tying the UCLA men’s team, which holds the NCAA record for consecutive wins set from 1971-74. UConn has not lost since the 2001 Final Four.
Taurasi was in foul trouble early and picked up her fourth with 15:55 left in the second half and did not return. She was averaging nearly 18 points but finished with only five Wednesday.
UConn dominated the post and outrebounded Syracuse, 57-27.
The Huskies outscored the Orangewomen, 32-8, in the paint.
Julie McBride led Syracuse (8-14, 3-8) with 18 points and had three of the Orangewomen’s eight second-half three-pointers. Rochelle Coleman was four of seven from three-point range in the second half and finished with 16 points for Syracuse.
OTHER GAMES
Kendra Wecker had 16 points and eight rebounds and Nicole Ohlde scored 14 as No. 5 Kansas State (22-2, 9-1 Big 12) beat Nebraska (8-13, 1-9), 64-47, at Manhattan, Kan. ... The Lady Raider bench had 50 points as No. 7 Texas Tech (20-2, 9-1 Big 12) beat Texas A&M; (9-12, 2-8), 83-38, at Lubbock, Texas.... No. 11 Texas (16-5, 9-1 Big 12) beat Oklahoma State (5-16, 1-9), 72-70, at Stillwater, Okla. ... LaToya Thomas scored 30 points as No. 16 Mississippi State (17-6) beat New Orleans (10-13), 81-69, at Starkville, Miss. ... No. 23 Rutgers (15-6, 8-2 Big East) defeated West Virginia (12-9, 1-8), 65-50, at Piscataway, N.J.