Huskies Roll Past West Virginia, 89-60, To End Regular Season With A Perfect
30-0 Record
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, WV (Feb. 26, 2002) -- For the third time in its history, the
University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, ranked No. 1 in the country,
has closed its regular season with a perfect record, running past West Virginia
in the second half to notch an 89-60 victory, its 30th of the season. UConn ends
the regular season at 30-0 overall, 16-0 in the BIG EAST, and enters this
weekend’s BIG EAST Tournament with the No. 1 seed.
UConn posted the game’s first basket, but Sherell Sowho responded with a
three-pointer to put West Virginia on top. The Mountaineers would lead for the
next five minutes before senior Asjha Jones (Piscataway, NJ) gave UConn a 14-12
advantage on a three-point play with 13:59 remaining.
West Virginia tied the game at 14-14 on a layup by Sowho but a three-pointer
by sophomore Maria Conlon (Derby, CT) gave UConn the lead for good at 17-14. The
Huskies eventually opened up a 24-17 lead on a three-pointer by sophomore Diana
Taurasi (Chino, CA). Jones and Taurasi combined for 17 of UConn’s first 24
points.
However, West Virginia would not go away quietly, cutting the Husky lead to
29-27 on a basket by Yolanda Paige. UConn answered with a 14-7 run to close the
half and bring its advantage to 43-34.
Sowho had 15 points in the first half, including 10 in the first 10 minutes,
while Taurasi and Jones each had 11 for UConn.
UConn opened the second half with seven unanswered points, making the score
50-34 before Paige could put the Mountaineers on the board in the second stanza
with a basket as the shot clock expired.
West Virginia kept the lead within 15 points until two Conlon three-pointers
put UConn ahead at 70-48. Conlon’s threes were part of an 18-0 UConn run that
gave the Huskies’s their largest lead at 78-48 and put the game out of reach.
Jones led UConn with 17 points, while senior Swin Cash (McKeesport, PA)
finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds for the double-double. Cash also
finished the season ranked first among BIG EAST players in scoring, ending the regular season with 15.6 ppg
for all games played, besting
West Virginia’s Kate Bulger, who had six in tonight’s contest.
Conlon added a season-high 14 points, while Taurasi and redshirt freshman
Jessica Moore (Palmer, AK) each had 11. Taurasi also posted eight assists.
Senior Sue Bird (Syosset, NY) rounded out the Huskies in double-figures with 10
points.
For the Mountaineers, who fall to 14-13 overall, 6-10 in the conference,
Sowho led all scorers with 22 points, and Paige contributed 18.
UConn moves onto the BIG EAST Tournament, to be held next weekend at Rutgers
University in Piscataway, NJ. By virtue of their No. 1 seed, the Huskies have a
bye in the first round and will face the winner of the first round Providence
vs. Seton Hall game in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 3. |
