No luck vs. Ducks

Oregon snaps UConn’s 66-game Gampel win streak

STORRS — The start was troublesome for UConn. Turns out, so was the ending. Fourth-ranked UConn’s big showdown with No. 3 Oregon wasn’t a showdown at all, but rather a clinic by a national championship contender.

The Huskies certainly didn’t look like one Monday. Oregon jumped ahead by 13 points in the first half and nursed a doubledigit lead in the second half, handing the Huskies a discouraging 74-56 loss.

UConn dropped to 19-2 and suffered their first defeat at Gampel Pavilion since Jan. 5, 2013 against Notre Dame, ending a 66-game streak. The Huskies have now dropped multiple home games in the same season for the first time since 2013.

All five of Oregon’s starters scored in double figures, led by

Ruthy Hebard with 22 points. Satou Sabally scored 17 points, followed by Erin Boley (13), Minyon Moore (12) and Sabrina Ionescu (10).

Crystal Dangerfield scored 19 points for UConn, but she didn’t get much help. Anna Makurat contributed 13. Megan Walker and Christyn Williams combined to shoot 5-of-25.

UConn never threatened in the second half. Oregon’s lead ranged between 12 and 20 points in the third. By midway through the fourth, a portion of the sellout crowd of 10,167 began streaming toward the exits.

The Huskies’ only lead was 2-0. Oregon responded with 10 straight points, prompting a quick Huskies timeout. The Huskies got back within five, but a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Sabally gave the Ducks a 22-12 lead after one quarter.

The Ducks used another 10-2 spurt to build a 27-14 lead in the second. Once again, UConn answered, A 3-pointer by Williams sliced it to 34-28. However, Oregon led 44-31 at halftime — this after Walker shot only 1-of-11. Walker finished with eight points.

UConn will look to bounce back on Friday at home against Memphis before visiting No. 1 South Carolina next Monday.

Honoring Kobe: Geno Auriemma wore a Kobe Bryant (No. 8) shirt under his jacket to honor his late friend. The NBA legend and his daughter, Gianna, 13, were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Jan. 26.

In the crowd: Class of 2021 signee Saylor Poffenbarger was in attendance, along with uncommitted prospect Caroline Ducharme. ESPN ranks Poffenbarger 17th and Ducharme 41st in the class.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press UConn’s Christyn Williams (13) shoots over Oregon's Satou Sabally, front left, in the first half Monday in Storrs.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press UConn’s Aubrey Griffin, left, pressures Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu in the first half on Monday.