STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Coach Geno Auriemma credited a combination
of maturity and two solid practices for helping No. 1 Connecticut
avoid any letdown after beating No. 2 Tennessee over the weekend.
|  | | Connecticut's Shea Ralph offered the defensive pressure and the senior leadership the Huskies needed to avoid a letdown against Georgetown.
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The outstanding play of senior co-captain Shea Ralph didn't hurt
either, as the Huskies cruised to a 107-45 victory Tuesday night over
Georgetown.
Ralph had a team-high 19 points, three steals and six of UConn's
33 assists. She seemed to be everywhere.
"Shea's playing out of her mind," Auriemma said. "She gets
into zones, and right now, she's in one where everything she does
is perfect."
Ralph, the most valuable player of the Final Four last season, has played
error-free the past two games.
"It's just going out there wanting to be there, wanting to
play, no matter who it is," Ralph said. "If anything I feel more
comfortable."
Her comfort zone gave Georgetown fits from the opening tip. She
scooped a loose ball on the run and found a wide-open Svetlana
Abrosimova racing toward the basket for the Huskies' first score
seven seconds into the game.
For UConn (10-0, 2-0 Big East) the rout was on.
The Huskies scored easily and often against the Hoyas (8-4, 0-1)
with an uptempo transition game fueled by a smothering defense.
Seven players scored in a 25-9 run to open the game.
Ralph had a hand in most of the offense during that stretch,
either starting or finishing a breakaway. Teammate Sue Bird led
with eight assists. UConn made those 33 assists on just 38 passes.
UConn was playing its fourth game in nearly a month and was just
coming off its 81-76 victory over Tennessee.
"We just had a pretty emotional game and you expect to have
some kind of struggle, but we never did," Auriemma said. "It was
just beautiful to watch."
Abrosimova, ailing from a bad back in the victory Saturday over
Tennessee, was healthy enough to lead UConn with eight rebounds and
five steals.
"I'm getting treatment and I'm beginning to adjust to the
pain," said Abrosimova, who played just 11 minutes against
Tennessee. "Since I'm haven't been practicing as much I'm not in
shape to play a full game."
The Huskies scored 37 points off 28 Georgetown turnovers and
shot nearly 60 percent for the game.
"If you give them an open floor, too much open floor, they're
just going to put on a show," said Georgetown coach Pat Knapp.
"What we're not going to forget is that you don't stand around and
watch them play. What we will forget is the score."
Rebekkah Brunson led the Hoyas with 15 points and seven
rebounds. Katie Smrcka-Duffy added 13 points.
Abrosimova finished with 14 points and played 24 minutes. She
played just 11 minutes against Tennessee and had no field goals
against the Volunteers. She hurt her back during a pickup game on
Christmas while staying with Ralph's family over the holiday. Ralph
said she felt it was her duty to come out strong for her friend,
beginning with the Tennessee game.
"I felt a responsibility to play one of my better games. Svet's
a good friend and she was with me when she got hurt," said Ralph.
"I kind of took it upon my shoulders just to play as well as I
could play and the team would follow right behind."
Swin Cash, who had 14 points for UConn, said that's what the
Huskies have done all season.
"Even when Shea wasn't scoring she was running the team because
she's our leader," Cash said. "Shea is just being Shea. We'll
miss her next season."
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Georgetown Clubhouse
Connecticut Clubhouse
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