Uconn Cuts Tennessee’s Home String

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said the Huskies ended Tennessee’s NCAA record 69-game women’s basketball home winning streak more with determination than skill.

“Today was a win not because it looked pretty or was executed beautifully, but because of the character and the tremendous willpower that this group has,” he said Saturday after the Huskies held the Lady Vols to one basket in the last 6:41 to win 59-53 at Knoxville, Tenn.

“This is a big win for us,” Auriemma said. “I think other than the national championship win last year this is probably the most satisfying victory our program has ever been associated with, because of who they are and what they stand for.”

Tennessee had not lost a home game since Jan. 29, 1991, but could not come up with the big play Saturday when necessary to keep the streak alive.

“You shoot 28 percent the second half, get one shot and let people penetrate to the basket, you’re going to lose when you’re playing a team like Connecticut,” said Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, whose Lady Vols have now lost three in a row to the Huskies, including last spring’s national title game.

“We have to step up and make big plays,” Summitt said. “You can’t hide in the last minutes of the game.”

Jennifer Rizzotti had 18 points and five assists to lead the Huskies (12-2). Kara Wolters added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Tennessee (11-2) was led by Chamique Holdsclaw with 15 points, Tiffany Johnson with 12 and Michelle Marciniak with 10.

The Huskies won with defense and rebounding down the stretch.

Tennessee led 51-47 with 6:41 left on Latina Davis’ pullup 10-footer, but those were the last meaningful points Tennessee would score. In the meantime UConn ran off 10 straight to pull away.

After Davis’ basket, neither team scored on its next five possessions covering 3-1/2 minutes. After a timeout, Connecticut’s Amy Duran finally broke the ice with a 3-pointer from the left corner, her only basket of the game, to make it 51-50 with 3:05 remaining.

After a Tennessee miss, Rizzotti drove the lane and sent a backhand feed to Jamelle Elliott, wide open under the basket. Elliott scored, was fouled, and converted the three-point play for a 53-51 UConn lead with 2:18 to go.

Duran’s two free throws with 48.7 seconds left made it 55-51. Two more by Elliott with 36 seconds left made it 57-51, completing the 10-point run and finishing the Lady Vols.

(3) Vandy 80, (17) Purdue 77, OT

At Nashville, Tenn., Na’Sheena Hillmon scored six points in overtime and Ginger Jared added a pair of key free throws as No. 3 Vanderbilt rallied to top No. 17 Purdue 80-77 Saturday.

Purdue (8-5) trailed 38-25 early in the second half but chipped away at the Vanderbilt lead until going ahead 70-68 on two free throws by Stephanie White with 44 seconds left in regulation.

Vanderbilt (11-0) sent the game into overtime when Mara Cunningham connected on a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left.