UConn ends DePaul’s lengthy home win streak

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma was impressed by his team’s victory that ended DePaul’s 33-game home winning streak.

The top two scoring teams in the Big East didn’t disappoint as No. 5 Connecticut beat No. 12 DePaul 84-75 on Saturday night in Chicago.

“Most good teams play good at home,” Auriemma said. “But the really good teams, they really separate themselves by playing well on the road. This is probably the biggest win we’ve had this year.”

After a slow start to the game, UConn (19-2, 8-0 Big East) went on a 17-2 run to end the half up 38-29. Barbara Turner had 13, of her team-high 24 points, in the first half, including six in the run. Turner added eight rebounds and five assists.

“(Turner) had an unbelievable night,” Auriemma said of his senior forward. “There comes a point and time when you’re a senior when you have to start to assert yourself. Usually those times are on the road.”

Turner’s performance helped UConn snap DePaul’s (18-3, 5-3 Big East) home winning streak, which had been the second longest in the nation.

Ann Strother had 18 points and 6 rebounds for UConn, with Charde Houston and Renee Montgomery adding 16 and 13 points, respectively.

After a slow first half, DePaul opened the second half with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 38. Both teams exchanged a flurry of baskets before UConn took charge, going on a 15-0 run to take a 72-58 lead.

“We started to execute more offensively,” Turner said. “During that 15-0 run, we moved the ball really well and we got the ball to people in positions where they were comfortable to make plays.”

DePaul blamed the loss on turnovers caused by the frantic pace of the game.

“I thought we were just a little hurried in the first half,” DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. “You can’t throw the ball to them. You can’t just give them the ball.”

DePaul couldn’t stop UConn in the second half as the Huskies made 69.6 percent of their shots.

“We weren’t where we needed to be defensively in the second half,” said Bruno. “They are the most efficient team I’ve seen.”

Khara Smith had 24 points and 12 rebounds for DePaul, giving her over 2,000 points in her career. Jenna Rubino added 14 points and 6 assists.

(9) Baylor 90, Kansas 40: At Waco, Texas, Sophia Young scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help the Lady Bears (15-3, 5-3 Big 12) beat the Jayhawks (13-5, 2-5). Five other Lady Bears reached double figures in the rout with Angela Tisdale adding 13. Chameka Scott and Jhasmin Player had 12 apiece. Jordan Davis contributed 11, while Tricia Abbott had 10.

(10) Rutgers 65, Georgetown 51: At Washington, Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points and Essence Carson added 13 to lead the Scarlet Knights (15-3, 7-0) over the Hoyas (8-11, 1-7) for their 15th straight Big East win. Mariota Theodoris added eight rebounds and Kia Vaughn had five blocked shots for Rutgers.

(13) Oklahoma 81, Texas A&M 72: At College Station, Texas, freshman Courtney Paris scored 18 points and Chelsi Welch and Britney Brown added 16 apiece to lead the Sooners (17-4, 7-0 Big 12) over the Aggies (16-5, 5-3). Paris, the leading scorer in the Big 12, also had 14 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

(18) New Mexico 60, UNLV 47: At Albuquerque, N.M., Katie Montgomery made a season-high five 3-pointers and scored 21 points to help the Lobos overcome some horrid first-half shooting to beat the Rebels (12-6, 4-3 Mountain West). New Mexico (16-4, 6-1) missed its first 10 shots and shot a season-low 28.3 percent. But Montgomery’s 3-point shooting, 19 offensive rebounds and solid defense extended New Mexico’s homecourt winning streak in MWC games to 31 straight.

(20) BYU 70, Colorado State 54: At Provo, Utah, Dani Kubik scored 15 points and Ambrosia Anderson added 14 to lead the Cougars (17-1, 6-0 Mountain West) to their ninth straight win. Sarah Hunter had 15 points to lead the Rams (7-11, 1-6), who lost their sixth straight game, and never seriously threatened after a 16-0 run for BYU in the first half.

South Florida 68, (21) Notre Dame 64 (OT): At South Bend, Ind., Ezria Parsons hit a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left to force overtime, then Jessica Jackson hit a key 3-pointer for the Bulls (14-7, 4-4 Big East), who survived a late rally from the Irish (12-7, 3-5). The Bulls, who led by as many as 15 points, needed Jackson’s 3-pointer with 2:12 left in overtime for a 65-62 lead. Jessica Dickson added a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left to seal the victory.