Nov. 20, 2009

Box Score |  Photo Gallery  | Postgame Notes

WORCESTER, Mass. - The No. 1/1 University of Connecticut women's basketball team won its 42nd straight game and outscored the Crusaders 54-4 in the paint as the Huskies cruised to 87-34 victory over Holy Cross on Friday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

Junior Maya Moore (Lawrenceville, Ga.) scored 21 points, while pulling down seven rebounds in 23 minutes of play as senior Tina Charles (Jamaica, N.Y.) added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Huskies in tonight's contest. Caroline Doty (Doylestown, Pa.) added 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting for UConn, including a 3-of-4 clip from behind the arc.

In their 18th all-time victory over Holy Cross, UConn opened tonight's contest with a 16-3 run on 14 points from inside the paint as the Huskies established themselves early on both ends of the court. Moore led the charge as she recorded 12 points in a span of 2:19 during the first half, improving her tally to 15 points in the first 12:50 of play as UConn took a 37-14 lead.

The UConn defense dominated from the tip as it recorded 12 steals in the first half and did not allow a point in the paint to the Crusaders until the 4:17 mark. Holy Cross committed 17 first-half turnovers, giving UConn 32 points on those mistakes. UConn shot .556 (20-of-36) before the break as the Huskies held Holy Cross to .364 (8-of-22) from the field.

Moore led both teams with 15 points heading into intermission on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. The junior captain added six rebounds and four steals. The Crusaders knocked down five 3-pointers in the first half, tying the most given up by the Huskies in an entire game this season.

Charles picked up her 87th career game in double-figures with 12 first-half points as the Huskies led 52-22 at the break.

The Huskies continued where they left off in the first half as they began the second frame with a 15-2 run in the first 5:36. Kalana Greene (Saint Stephen, S.C.) extended UConn's lead to 54 in the second half with a layup to make the score 87-33 late in the game. With the victory, UConn has now won 42 consecutive games by a margin of 10 points or more as head coach Geno Auriemma earned his 699th career victory.

UConn finished the night shooting .603 (35-of-58) from the floor and out rebounded the Crusaders 37-21. Holy Cross shot .267 (12-of-45), including a 6-of-16 clip from behind the arc after making five of those 3-pointers in the first half. The six made three-pointers marks the most give up by UConn so far this season.

The Huskies will enjoy six days off before returning to action on Friday, Nov. 27 against Hofstra in a 7:30 p.m. (ET) tip in the first game of three-day WBCA Classic, which will be played in Gampel Pavilion.