Huskies’ rout of Bearcats includes crushing 38-0 run

UNCASVILLE — Social media was buzzing with reactions ranging from disbelief to outrage when the updated score in the American Athletic Conference semifinals began flashing during the UConn women’s basketball team’s whitewashing of a second quarter.

Since the collegiate women’s basketball games began being playing four quarters in the 2015-16 season, UConn had never held an opponent scoreless in a quarter — until now.

Cincinnati missed its final 16 shots of the first half and first three in the third quarter including all 11 in the second quarter as the Huskies walked away with a 75-21 victory on Monday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. UConn will meet South Florida in Tuesday’s AAC final (5 p.m., ESPN2).

The five points scored by the Bearcats is tied for the fewest allowed by the Huskies in a first half. On Nov. 25, 2011 Fairleigh Dickinson also managed only five points in the opening half.

The Bearcats actually connected on their first shot of the game thanks to a jumper by Angel Rizor before missing the next five. Little did Cincinnati know that when Nikira Goings made a 3-pointer with 4:39 to play in the first quarter that it would be the final points scored by a 19-win team that could end up landing a spot in the postseason WNIT.

UConn’s win included a 38-0 run.

Azurá Stevens finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Napheesa Collier added 13 points, six rebounds and five assists for UConn (31-0), which played without All-American forward Gabby Williams who injured her hip in the quarterfinal win over Tulane.

Katie Lou Samuelson had 11 points and has scored in double figures in all eight AAC tournament games she has played in.