Five takeaways from win over Vanguard

The UConn women’s basketball team tipped off its exhibition schedule by dominating Vanguard, the No. 1 NAIA team in the country, 96-30, on Sunday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion.

Considering the opponent, it’s tough to read too much into the boxscore. Coach Geno Auriemma made that clear postgame, saying, “We got out, we put our uniforms on, we ran up and down. Trying to read anything more into all of that is probably not worth anything at this point.”

Nevertheless, here are some observations from the Huskies’ first — unofficial —game of the season.

BENCH QUESTIONS

UConn’s starters won’t be able to play 40 minutes a night, at least not on a consistent basis. There will be plenty of times when Auriemma needs to turn to his bench, whether because of foul trouble, fatigue or another unforeseen problem.

Auriemma displayed all his options against Vanguard, and the results weren’t overly promising. Outside of some flashes from freshman Olivia Nelson-Ododa, the Huskies’ backups didn’t provide much to get excited about. They were outplayed in the fourth quarter — getting outscored 15-9 — and combined for just 16 of the Huskies’ 96 points.

The performance was particularly discouraging

considering the opponent. This wasn’t Tennessee, Oregon, Mississippi State or even South Florida. This was Vanguard, the No. 1 NAIA team in the country.

Fortunately, the Huskies don’t need to have all their questions answered today. But how the bench develops moving forward bears watching.

“Some years we’ve got guys that are All-Americans coming off the bench that can start for any other team in the country,” Auriemma said. “Obviously now, we don’t. So, we’ve got

to make do with what we have.”

WILLIAMS CONTINUES TO MAKE FANS

Christyn Williams speaks with confidence. It’s now obvious that she plays with it, too.

Whether it was in the open court or while attacking the rim, the prized freshman guard looked comfortable with the ball in her hands. Her performance — 10 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes — was a promising development for the Huskies, who will need someone beyond the Big Three of Katie Lou Samuelson, Napheesa Collier and Crystal

Dangerfield to step up and become a steady contributor.

“She’s unique in the respect that you don’t have to tell her a couple times when she gets the ball what you want her to do,” Auriemma said. “I just want to continue to point out to her how many opportunities exist when she touches it and what she’s good at — and she’s good at a lot of different things.

“Whenever she catches the ball, I want her to do something. I don’t necessarily know what or how, but I know she’s going to do something with it.”

ONO IS ‘ACTIVE’

Given their lack of size, the Huskies would certainly benefit from NelsonOdoda being a quick learner. Standing 6-foot-4 and brimming with talent, she figures to play an important role in the post — assuming, of course, she doesn’t struggle too much with the physicality of the college game.

Nelson-Ododa filled up the box score in her debut, recording five points, 11 rebounds (seven offensive) and two blocks over 20 minutes. She also picked up three fouls, reminding everyone that she’s still raw.

“She was active,” Auriemma said. “She’s going to get a lot better, a lot better.

… She better get a lot better fast because we’re going to need her sooner rather than later. She has a lot to offer.”

KATIE LOU DOING MORE

Again, it’s difficult to make too much out of Samuelson, a 6-3 All-American, collecting 11 rebounds in just 24 minutes. It was interesting, though, to hear Samuelson explain how she’s working on becoming a better rebounder. She sees it as part of her evolution as a leader.

“I think I’m just trying to make sure I do more stuff this year,” she said. “We lost a really big rebounder

(6-6 Azura Stevens). I’ve been trying to do it more in practice and just make sure I can be more of an allaround player.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Auriemma sarcastically compared the season-opening game against Ohio State (Sunday, noon) to college football, saying that if the Huskies lose, their season will be over.

“We’d be out of the college football playoff. We’d have a two-game losing streak,” he joked. “Next Sunday is kind of do-or-die, Armageddon-type Sunday.”