Huskies Pull Away With 103-69 Win Over Ball State

Box Score

STORRS, CT -- Surviving the sharp-shooting of Ball State, the No. 1 University of Connecticut women’s basketball team pulled away to a 103-69 victory over the Cardinals Friday night at Gampel Pavilion. Sophomore Diana Taurasi (Chino, CA) posted an impressive all-round game with 17 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds to pace the Huskies, who improve to 7-0 this season.

The first minute of the game witnessed a traditional UConn start, as the Huskies broke out to a 7-0 lead at the 19:04 mark. After a Ball State timeout, the Cardinals regrouped, storming back to tie the game, 10-10, at the 16:31 mark. The Huskies, who previously only had trailed 29 seconds during the season, were in an unfamiliar position when a Johna Goff three-pointer gave Ball State its first advantage, 10-9, with 16:47 left in the half.

A jumper by Goff put Ball State up, 22-17, at the 12:35 mark. The five-point advantage was the largest of the night for the Cardinals, who matched the spread on a three-pointer by Shala Crook, which made the score 27-22 with 10:29 left in the half. Ball State connected on eight three-pointers in the first half, including four from Goff who wowed the Gampel crowd with 14 first-half points.

Goff was matched by Taurasi, who nailed four three-pointers in the half. With the score tied at 30-30 with 8:09 left in the half, Taurasi and senior Sue Bird (Syosset, NY) led a 24-8 Husky run to close the first half. Taurasi had nine of her 17 points in the run, while Bird chipped in with seven. The halftime advantage for UConn was 54-38.

In the second half, senior Asjha Jones (Piscataway, NJ) took over the scoring load for the Huskies, opening the half with five straight points and posting 11 of her game-high 19 points in the half. A layup by classmate Swin Cash (McKeesport, PA) gave UConn its largest lead of the night with a 87-49 score at the 8:57 mark. The Huskies then cruised to the 34-point victory.

Redshirt freshman Jessica Moore (Palmer, AK) added her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 11 boards. Moore was not alone in the career best category, as Taurasi’s 12 assists were also a personal best.

Cash finished with 18 points and nine boards.

For the Cardinals, Tamara Bowie registered 17 points, while Goff finished with 16 points. The Cardinals posted 13 three-pointers, an all-time opponent high against the Huskies.

Jessica Reiter added 13 points and six boards for the Cardinals, who fall to 3-2 this season.

UConn opens its BIG EAST season with a home contest against St. John’s on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion.