Lodi News-Sentinel

Top-ranked UConn routs No. 20 California 82-47

- By Doug Feinberg

STORRS, Conn. — Geno Auriemma has put together a tough schedule for his UConn Huskies for the next week. They might be without Katie Lou Samuelson for those game.

Samuelson injured her left foot in the second quarter of No. 1 UConn’s 82-47 win over 20th-ranked California on Friday night.

“According to Janelle (the trainer), it’s something called a mid-foot sprain, whatever that is,” Auriemma said. “We’ll find out more tomorrow. Do some treatment on her, get some Xrays, make sure nothing’s broken in there.”

Samuelson, who scored 12 points before she got hurt, was wearing a walking boot on her left foot after the game.

The Huskies play No. 15 Maryland on Sunday before heading out west to face eighth-ranked UCLA on Tuesday.

“We like that Friday-Sunday, Saturday-Monday deal for NCAA Tournament preview kind of stuff,” Auriemma said. “Now we’re throwing a whole (different) layer on it. I like the fact we’re going to be tested, be on the road for a long time want to see how we handle it.”

“Now on top of that we got a kid that may or not play, we rely on heavily. All of a sudden now this isn’t like

normal Connecticu­t go on the road walk in the arena blow someone out and go home. Not like that. I’m anxious to see how we respond to that.”

Crystal Dangerfiel­d, Kia Nurse and Napheesa Collier all scored 14 points to lead UConn (2-0).

The Huskies trailed 4-3 early before scoring 23 of the next 25 points to take command of the game. Gabby Williams got the run started with consecutiv­e layups. Later in the burst she made a layup while falling that gave UConn a 22-6 advantage. Sara Anastasies­ka hit a 3-pointer with 1:41 left in the opening period to end a string of 17 consecutiv­e points scored by the Huskies.

UConn led 30-11 after one quarter and wasn’t really challenged by Cal (1-1) the rest of the way.

Kristine Anigwe scored 14 points to lead the Golden Bears, who will play UConn the next three years.

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