No. 4 UConn uses ‘late run’ to pull away from Memphis

Dangerfield scores 24 points

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Jan 15, (AP): It was a rare uncomfortable night in a conference game for UConn. Crystal Dangerfield scored 24 and the fourth-ranked Huskies needed a late run to pull away from Memphis in a 68-56 win. UConn (14-1, 5-0 American Athletic Conference) escaped in the final quarter to remain undefeated in league play. They have not lost a conference game since joining AAC in the 2013-14 season and are 11-0 alltime against Memphis.

“It’s good and bad, I guess, that we’re not in a position to have to prove ourselves that much in these games,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “They’ve been kind of one-sided a lot of times. Sometimes you don’t realize that maybe we have some guys on our team that can make plays when we have to.”

Prior to Tuesday, the closest game between Memphis and UConn was an 83-49 Huskies win on Jan 22, 2014.

“I don’t think it’s a moral victory,” Memphis coach Melissa McFerrin said. “I think it tells our kids how good we can be. It should tell our team how good we can be when we play our tails off.”

Megan Walker added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Huskies and Christyn Williams scored 16 points.

Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu led the Tigers (9-8, 0-4) with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Madison Griggs scored 12.

But Dangerfield was a step quicker than everyone else. The senior guard has scored 10 or more points in each of her last nine games.

Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova competes during an alpine ski, women’s World

Cup slalom in Flachau, Austria on Jan 14. (AP)