PHILADELPHIA, PA. 11/17/2019 – The Connecticut Huskies and the Temple Owls started the American women’s basketball season early. When the Huskies visit, it is always an exciting contest.
For three quarters Temple was in the game, and out scored UConn 15 – 11 in the third quarter getting to within 45 – 57 going into the final ten minutes. But it was the 4th ranked Huskies who dominated that stretch and took home an 83 – 54 win at the Liacouras Center.
At the start of the fourth quarter UConn pulled away behind a 13 – 2 run over the first five minutes. The Cherry and White put up 9 total points in the 4th quarter. The run was a result of Huskies moving and playing faster.
“One of the things we’ve struggled with is getting out in transition and scoring early in the possession,” said Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma. “Today, we did a much better job of pushing it, and not allowing Temple to set their defense as much. That and we were moving. When we move we create problems for other teams. It leaves people wide open. In the fourth quarter we got our energy back, and that’s why it looked the way it looked.”
“In the third quarter we made it difficult for them, but in the fourth quarter, it got away from us,” Cardoza said. “We weren’t making shots and at the other end defensively we were a little lax, maybe tired from all of the movement. They took advantage of that in the fourth quarter.”
Mia Davis led the Owls with 18 points making 7 of 18 from the floor. Her basket at the 3:04 mark of the third quarter gave her a milestone 1,000 career points. The junior forward gave the credit to her court mates.
“I knew it was near, so thanks to my team,” said Davis.
Ashley Jones was one point and one rebound shy of a double-double getting 9 in each category. The total off the glass was her career-high. Asonah Alexander set a collegiate-mark in scoring with 11 points.
Christyn Williams scored a game-high 19 points for Connecticut, one of four players in double figures. Megan Walker added 15 points and Chrystal Dangerfield contributed 14. Olivia Nelson-Ododa had 15 points and 10 rebounds, her third straight double-double this year.
Temple is 3 -2 so far, 0 – 1 in conference and will get ready for a game at Bucknell on Wednesday.
UConn is 3 – 0 and have won their 105th conference regular season game, and 121st including conference tournaments. But this season the winning formula will be different. They are a work in progress.
“We can’t expect it to look like or be like it did last season,” Auriemma said. “It’s not going to happen. It’s going to look different. How much different? I don’t know. We have to figure out a different way to do it. How do we get to the same place in a different way.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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