UConn moves closer to topping own record

HARTFORD, Conn. — Napheesa Collier scored 21 points and top-ranked UConn beat East Carolina 90-45 for the program’s 89th consecutive victory Wednesday night, moving the Huskies within a game of their own NCAA record.

Gabby Williams added 16 points, Katie Lou Samuelson had 15 and Kia Nurse chipped in with 14 for UConn (14-0, 2-0 American), which now has the two longest winning streaks in Division I college basketball history.

The victory broke a tie with John Wooden’s UCLA men’s program, which won 88 consecutive in the early 1970s. That program won 10 national titles. Geno Auriemma’s women have won 11 championships, including the past four.

Kristen Gaffney led East Carolina (9-6, 0-2) with 12 points.

Saniya Chong hit a three-pointer from the left corner to open the scoring and the Huskies never trailed. UConn closed out the first half on a 12-2 run that made it 4520 and took their first 40-point lead in the third quarter on two Natalie Butler free throws that made the score 68-28.

The Pirates have never come within 40 points of the Huskies, losing the seven games they have played by an average of 47.3 points.

The Huskies outscored East Carolina 52-20 in the paint and outrebounded the Pirates 41-23.

UConn has won 136 of its past 137 games. Their only loss during that stretch came by two points, in overtime, at Stanford on Nov. 17, 2014.

A victory Tuesday over No. 22 South Florida would tie the 90-game streak that Auriemma’s teams set between November 2008 and December 2010.

UConn owns the top three winning streaks in women’s basketball history at 90, 89 and 70 games. The Huskies also had streaks of 47 (2013-2015), 35 (1994-1996), and 33 games (1996-1097).