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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
STORRS, Conn. -- Holy Cross coach Bill Gibbons can read a
box score and knew what to expect when his Crusaders played No. 1
Connecticut on Thursday.
The Huskies were coming off a 24-point win over Miami, but also
stumbled through it with a season-high 24 turnovers.
"I didn't tell my team that, but I knew (UConn) would be fired
up," Gibbons said after the Huskies cruised to a 92-32 win over
the Crusaders.
"My riddle today was ... what's the only thing worse than
playing UConn at UConn? Playing UConn after they have come off a
bad game on the road," said Gibbons.
The Huskies (6-0) made up for Tuesday's outing with a smothering
defense, a high-powered transition game and 27 steals.
Swin Cash scored 16 points for UConn. Asjha Jones and Svetlana
Abrosimova each had 13 points.
Abrosimova also had a team-high six boards as UConn outrebounded
the Crusaders 41-35.
"Tonight was 10 times better than Miami," said Cash, who also
had five rebounds and two steals. "We came out to fix things
tonight and we did."
Kristin Popovics had seven points to lead Holy Cross (4-5),
which made 35 turnovers -- the most by a UConn opponent this season.
"Holy Cross just doesn't have the depth and talent that we
have," said UConn coach Geno Auriemma. "So it's really difficult
for a team like that when we're playing real well to get anything
accomplished. And that's what happened tonight."
It all happened quickly.
The Huskies missed their opening shot -- a 3-point attempt -- then
quickly raced out to a 24-2 lead with less than half the period
gone. Five players scored in that run, including Abrosimova, who
keyed the spurt with a 3-pointer.
UConn didn't need any long-range help as most of the Huskies'
points were uncontested layups made in transition. UConn had 28
fast-break points and 44 from turnovers.
Jones had five of the Huskies' 27 steals.
"We're starting to understand what good defense is and we've
got guys who are committed to it," said Auriemma. "When you play
really good defense, it gets your offense easy shots."
Holy Cross shot 22 percent and was held scoreless for up to
seven minutes during one stretch. By halftime, Holy Cross had used
up all but one timeout.
Both Gibbons and Auriemma are in their 16th year with their
respective teams. The Huskies lead the series 9-2 and haven't been
beaten by the Crusaders since the 1986-87 season.
"I always said in the old days, (UConn) played great half-court
man-to-man defense, but at least you could get your shots off,"
said Gibbons. "Now they're so much better because they play
full-court defense and such good zone defense. They mix things up.
We hurry into our offense and don't get a good shot off."
Holy Cross scoring leader Jeanette Paukert was held to four
points, 10 below her average.
"We had to come out and prove something," said UConn guard Sue
Bird, who finished with three steals and nine points. "I have been
working on other parts of my game and defense is one of them. I
want my defense to create offense for other people."
The win was the 399th for Auriemma. He'll go for No. 400 at
Illinois on Sunday.
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Holy Cross Clubhouse
Connecticut Clubhouse
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