University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Pulls Away From Villanova for 61-43 Win
2/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By DAN LEWERENZ
Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Asjha Jones scored 14 points and Sue Bird added 13 as No. 3 Connecticut pulled away in the second half to a 61-43 victory over Villanova Sunday.  |
| UConn's Shea Ralph heads for the basket after stealing the ball from Villanova's Mimi Riley (3). (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy |
Fouls hurt Villanova in the second half. Guard Trish Juhline picked up her fourth foul with 14:39 left, and Riley's third foul put the Huskies in the bonus with 14:01 left in the game.
Connecticut opened the second half with a 7-0 run, going up 36-26 on a Shea Ralph free throw with 16:54 left.
The Huskies had a 21-12 lead before Villanova went on a 9-0 run to tie the game with 5:44 left in the first half. Sue Bird's driving layup with 4 seconds left gave Connecticut a 29-26 halftime lead, the lowest first-half score this season for the Huskies.
Swin Cash finished with 12 points for the Huskies.
Juhline led the Wildcats with 10 points.
The win was Connecticut's 15th straight against Villanova, which last defeated the Huskies 50-44 on Jan. 27, 1993.
The loss denied Villanova coach Henry Perretta _ already the winningest women's coach in school history _ the top spot on Villanova's career wins chart. With a record of 413-242, Perretta is tied with former Wildcats men's coach Al Severance, who went 413-201 from 1936-61.
Villanova, which broke into the Top 25 this year for the first time since the 1986-87 season, set an attendance mark of 6,229, but most in the crowd were Connecticut fans. The previous record of 4,019 was set March 1, 1987, when Villanova defeated Boston College 60-45 in the championship game of the Big East Tournament.
Diana Taurasi, the national high school player of the year last year, left the game with a right ankle sprain early in the second half. Tamika Williams, who averages 9.7 points off the bench for the Huskies, did not play because of a bruised rib. She was expected to return for Connecticut's game Tuesday against West Virginia.
