The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Huskies set season high in steals in blowout win
HOUSTON — The 2,150 fans inside H&PE Arena hadn’t even gotten comfortable in their seats when the story line of Saturday’s American Athletic Conference matchup between visiting UConn and Houston became rather apparent.
The top-ranked Huskies came up with two steals before Houston had even managed to unleash its first field-goal attempt.
By game’s end, UConn’s seasonhigh total of 21 steals and 38 points off turnovers powered the Huskies to a 95-35 victory.
Six different players had at least two steals led by Crystal Dangerfield and Gabby Williams with four each as the Huskies improved to 87-0 in AAC regular-season and tournament play.
“I love when we play like that, I think it is entertaining for the crowd and for us,” Williams said.
UConn (15-0, 5-0 in the AAC) had already topped their season best total for steals with 7:01 left to play in the third quarter. If the starters had played the remainder of the game, it’s quite possible that the program single-game mark of 27 steals set in a 2000 win over Holy Cross could have fallen.
“It was difficult to find any easy openings against us, they are a team that likes to shoot a lot of 3s and they traditionally do and make a bunch,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “We were pretty spread in our defense and forced them to do things that they weren’t comfortable with and that is what happened.”
UConn allowed the fewest points in the first quarter (4) and in the first half (13) this season against the Cougars. Houston didn’t make back-to-back shots and the AAC’s top 3-point shooting team finished 4 of 26 from behind the 3-point line.
“Our defense was talking early on so we were able to get out and get steals,” Dangerfield said. “I think once one of us gets going, everybody wants a piece of it so everybody could get their own.
“Our defense is our best offense so if we can get those early steals and get transition offense, that is what works for us.”
Azurá Stevens had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Katie Lou Samuelson and Kia Nurse added 17 points each. Dangerfield had 11 points while Napheesa Collier contributed seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and four blocked shots. Kyla Irwin had a career-high eight points.
Houston (14-5, 3-2) was led by Jasmyne Harris’ 15 points. Harris, who came into the game averaging 29 points in four conference games, was 5 of 21 from the floor including 2 of 13 from 3-point range. She also had five of the Cougars’ 28 turnovers and no assists.
DAILEY HONORED
UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey admitted that coming up with the proper words to express her pride and joy at being a finalist for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame was quite the challenge.
Dailey, who has been at Auriemma’s side for all 33 seasons and 11 nationalchampionship runs at UConn, is one of 10 finalists for the Class of 2018.
“It is just a great honor to have your name in the conversation with the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. It is not something expected, but I have a lot of respect for everyone who has ever been recognized and the other people who are up for induction this year,” Dailey said. “I never thought about it. This is the first year that they put assistant coaches even into the mix, so I never thought one way or the other about it. But to be thought of in that light by people in my profession, I am happy.
“I am speechless which is hard to believe, I know. There are so many people who are qualified and should be recognized that I don’t know how they could actually limit them. I say more about our program, the people I work with and the players than it does about me.”