University of Connecticut Athletics
No. 1 Huskies Coast Past Washington, 100-54
11/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
 Connecticut's Swin Cash pressures Washington's Giuliana Mendiola during the first half at the Bank of America Arena.(AP Photo/John Froschauer) |
SEATTLE (AP) (Nov. 24) -- Svetlana Abrosimova scored 11 of her 23 points during a decisive early run as No. 1 Connecticut coasted to a 100-54 victory Friday night over Washington.
The two-time All-America started the run with a 3-pointer. Over a six-minute stretch, Connecticut outscored Washington 24-6 - and forced six turnovers - to take a 30-11 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
Connecticut (3-0) never trailed and dominated with defense, forcing 26 turnovers and limiting Washington to 31.7 percent shooting from the field.
Asjha Jones and Diana Taurasi scored 14 points each for Connecticut. Tamika Williams added 11. Abrosimova was 10-of-11 from the field.
Kellie O'Neill scored a career-high 27 points for Washington (1-2).
Megan Franza, Washington's leading scorer, was limited to six points on 3-of-15 shooting, including 0-of-9 from 3-point range.
Connecticut, which returns all five starters and the top eight scorers from last season's national championship team, led by at least 22 points throughout the second half.
Sue Bird scored five points during a 17-0 Connecticut run early in the second half that made it a rout.
Connecticut outscored opponents by an average of 30.6 points per game last season while going 36-1. During the first three game this season, Connecticut has outscored opponents by an average of 36.7 points per game.
Abrosimova missed only one of nine shots in the first half as Connecticut took a 53-27 halftime lead. O'Neill scored 19 of Washington's 27 first half points.
It was the inaugural game at the newly renovated Hec Edmundson Pavilion, which was originally constructed in 1927 and underwent a $40 million facelift that increased seating capacity to 10,000.
Shea Ralph scored nine points to move into ninth place on Connecticut's career scoring list, passing Peggy Walsh.
