University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Climb Past W. Virginia to Take No. 1 Seed
3/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HARTFORD, CT (March 4, 2003) -- Center Jessica Moore (Palmer, AK) scored a career-high 24 points and All-America Diana Taurasi (Chino, CA) added 20 as Connecticut used a 22-0 run in the first half to win its’ 68th consecutive game, a 78-58 romp over West Virginia, Tuesday night, before a sellout crowd of 16,294 at the Hartford Civic Center.
Connecticut, now 29-0 and 16-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, has clinched the top seed in next week’s league tournament. The Mountaineers drop to 15-12, 4-12 in conference play.
West Virginia had an early lead of 6-5 before the Huskies went on their game-breaking spurt. Taurasi scored eight points and Moore added six the key run that saw UConn hold West Virginia scoreless for 8:24. The Huskies settled for a 42-23 lead at intermission, as Moore scored 16 on seven of nine shooting.
The Mountaineers were only able to get as close as 13 in the second half, as the Huskies’ were able to pound the ball inside. Connecticut had 46 points in the paint and out-rebounded WVU, 51-29, behind Moore, who snagged a game-high nine. Taurasi and Ashley Battle (Pittsburgh, PA) each grabbed eight boards. Point guard Maria Conlon (Derby, CT) and Taurasi each had five assists for the Huskies, who won their tenth consecutive BIG EAST regular season title.
West Virginia’s Kate Bulger scored a game-high 25 points, including five of nine from beyond the arc. Yolanda Paige had a game-high ten assists for the Mountaineers.
The Huskies will open BIG EAST tournament play on Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. The tournament will be played at Rutgers University and the Huskies’ quarterfinal round match up will be televised by CPTV.
