UConn women hope to slow down Penn State

KINGSTON, R.I. – Geno Auriemma knows UConn can keep pace with Penn State’s high-powered offense, he’d just prefer if the Huskies didn’t have to.

The top-seeded Huskies will face the fourth-seeded Nittany Lions today in the Kingston regional semifinals.

Penn State has run its way through the first two rounds, averaging a whopping 871/2 points in its two victories.

Still the Nittany Lions haven’t faced a defense such as Connecticut, which is on pace to top its own NCAA season record for scoring defense.

“I think we’re going to be OK scoring points, but I think guarding them is going to be the difference in the game,” Auriemma said.

“We’re going to have to do a great job of limiting their possessions.”

The Huskies (31-4) are allowing just 45 points a game this season.

They’ve picked that up in the first two rounds of the tournament, stymieing Kansas State in the second round by giving up an NCAA tournament-low 26 points.

This is the Huskies’ 19th straight trip to the round of 16 while the Nittany Lions (26-6) advanced this far for the first time since 2004.