No. 1 UConn Rolls Over Miami, 96-50

Box Score

HARTFORD, CT (Jan. 12, 2002) -- Behind six players in double figures, the No. 1 University of Connecticut women's basketball team rolled over BIG EAST foe Miami, 96-50, at the Hartford Civic Center Saturday afternoon. UConn remains undefeated this season at 18-0 overall, 4-0 in the BIG EAST, while Miami is 9-6, 2-3 in conference play.

UConn broke out to a 10-3 lead to open the game, but Miami hung close, cutting the UConn advantage to 12-11 at the 13:21 mark on a layup by Sheila James.

Keyed by sophomore Diana Taurasi (Chino, CA), the Huskies responded with an 18-2 run over the next 4:41 to bring the score to 30-13 with 8:40 remaining in the half. Taurasi had nine points in the run to finish with 12 in the half.

UConn scored the last eight points of the half to make the halftime score, 47-19.

Senior Swin Cash (McKeesport, PA) had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, the second time this season the forward had a double-double at the break. Cash finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season.

The Huskies stormed out of the gate in the second half as well, posting a 40-point lead at 66-26 with 14:50 remaining. UConn eventually opened a 48-point lead on three occasions in the second half.

Cash was joined in double figures by classmates Sue Bird (Syosset, NY), Asjha Jones (Piscataway, NJ) and Tamika Williams (Dayton, OH) as well as redshirt freshman Ashley Battle (Pittsburgh, PA) and Taurasi, who finished with 14 points. Bird had 10 points and eight assists while Jones chipped in 17 points and Williams recorded 11 points.

Battle registered 11 points and 13 rebounds for her first career double-double.

For Miami, Chanivia Broussard notched a game-high 18 points and Meghan Saake had 10 points.

The pesky Miami defense, ranked first in the BIG EAST in steals per game with 14.8, forced 21 Huksy turnovers and posted 15 steals. However, UConn matched Miami's defensive intensity, forcing 24 Hurricane turnovers and recording 15 steals.

UConn hits the road for its next contest, an 8 p.m. matchup with Georgetown on Tuesday in Washington, DC.