University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Women's Basketball Blasts Georgia, 99-70
11/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HARTFORD, Conn. The No. 1 nationally-ranked University of Connecticut women's basketball team began defense of its national championship in impressive fashion Sunday, rolling past No. 3 nationally-ranked Georgia 99-70 in the State Farm Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic at the Hartford Civic Center.
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| Shea Ralph (AP Photo/Steve Miller) |
In the second half, Georgia got within 12 points, 71-59 with eight minutes left, but the talented Huskies used their depth to wear down the Bulldogs. In the end, UConn had rebuilt the final margin to the same 29-point edge it held in the opening half.
Connecticut two-time All-American Svetlana Abrosimova was brilliant throughout the contest, scoring a game-high 18 points and adding 11 assists, seven rebounds and four steals while playing 31 minutes without a turnover.
The winners also had four other players in double figures. Non-starter Tamika Williams came off the bench to score 12 points while Sue Bird scored 11 and Shea Ralph and Swin Cash each tallied 10. The UConn bench totaled 42 points while the five starters recorded 57 points. Cash finished with a double-double, adding a team-high 10 rebounds to her 10-point scoring total.
Georgia was led by non-starter Christi Thomas who scored 16 points and added a game-high 12 rebounds. Also in double figures for the Bulldogs were the sister duo of Coco and Kelly Miller, with 15 and 12 points respectively, and Deanna Nolan with 11.
Connecticut was a sizzling 61.8% from the field (21 of 34) in the opening 20 minutes of play while limiting Georgia to just 31.3% from the floor. For the entire game, UConn shot 56.7% from the floor (38 of 67) while Georgia ended the game with a 37.5% showing, hitting 24 of 64 field goal tries.
UConn, led by Abrosimova's 11 assists, totaled 25 assists on 38 field goals in the season-opening effort. The Huskies were six-of-12 from three-point range (50%) and clicked on 17-of-24 at the foul line (70.8%).
Connecticut plays an exhibition game on Saturday, November 18, at the Harry A Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, hosting a touring team from Ukraine at 7:30 p.m.
UConn will resume regular season play on Tuesday, November 21, visiting Pepperdine for a 10 p.m. (EST) clash in Malibu, California. That game will be televised throughout the Connecticut market by Connecticut Public Television.
