University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Vanderbilt
No. 3 Women's Basketball Rout Vanderbilt, 91-52
11/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FINAL: #UConn 91, Vanderbilt 52. Nurse and Tuck lead the way with 16 points each. #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/M0mulXPB47
- UConn Women's Hoops (@UConnWBB) November 30, 2014
ESTERO, Fla. (AP) - Kia Nurse and Morgan Tuck each scored 16 points as No. 3 Connecticut advanced to the championship of the Gulf Coast Showcase with a decisive 91-52 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday night.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis added 14 points and Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson both had 12 points for the Huskies (4-1), who will play Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Huskies now have won 53 straight regular-season tournament games.
Christa Reed led Vanderbilt (5-1) with 17 points.
UConn took an early 7-0 lead. It was the fourth time this season Vanderbilt started slow - including a 17-2 deficit to Wisconsin - but the Commodores found a way to come back in those contests. Not against the Huskies.
The Commodores trailed just 22-14 after a 3-pointer from Reed. But Jefferson hit a 3-pointer, stole the inbounds pass, then fed Nurse for a layup to quickly make it 27-14. That started a 30-8 run and the rout was on. The Huskies led 52-27 at halftime. They led by as much as 44 in the second half.
Geno Auriemma said his team would have fewer turnovers than the 23 they had against College of Charleston. He was right. The Huskies had 14. They also forced 24 turnovers.
QUOTABLE
Auriemma, when asked if he's made women's college basketball a better sport, he said that's best left to others to answer. He then went on to say, "We're acutely aware of UConn's impact on college basketball since 1995. We know within our building an in our world what we've done and the impact we've had since 1995, where TV is today."
"We're the most constant. Others have come and gone and some are just coming now."
"And I'm also aware we'll never get credit for certain segments of the women's basketball community. And I'm OK with that."
NEXT GAME
Connecticut: vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay, championship, Gulf Coast Showcase
Vanderbilt: vs. Arizona State, third place, Gulf Coast Showcase
