Reserve helps lead UConn to another milestone victory

TOP 25 WOMEN

NO. 1 CONNECTICUT 80, CENTRAL FLORIDA 44

STORRS, Conn. — Azura Stevens came off the bench to score 19 points, leading topranked UConn to its 100th consecutive regular-season victory on Tuesday, 80-44 over Central Florida.

Stevens hit nine of her 13 shots and grabbed 10 rebounds for Connecticut (14-0, 4-0 American) for her fourth double-double of the season and 28th of her career.

Korneila Wright scored 17 points for Central Florida (11-6, 3-1).

UConn, which came in averaging 91 points a game, led just 32-19 at halftime. It was the Huskies lowest-scoring first half this season.

Coach Geno Auriemma apparently had some things to say in the locker room, keeping his team off the court until there was less than 30 seconds left on the halftime clock.

UConn responded with a 48-point second half, outscoring the Knights 12-2 over the final four minutes of the third quarter to take a 56-32 lead. They cruised from there. The Huskies held UCF to 33 percent shooting and the Knights made just four of their 15 shots from threepoint range.

Five Huskies scored in double figures. Kia Nurse had 13 points, Napheesa Collier added 12, and Crystal Dangerfield and Katie Lou Samuelson each chipped in with 11 points.

Gabby Williams had 8 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Knights came into the game in a three-way tie atop the conference standings, and were ranked 10th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to just over 54 points per game.

UConn’s victory extended several other streaks. The Huskies have won 86 consecutive games in the American Athletic Conference. They also have beaten 144 consecutive unranked opponents since losing to St. John’s in Feburary 2012. UConn’s previous regular-season loss came at Stanford, 88-86 in overtime, on Nov. 17, 2014.