The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Finding the Answers
Huskies take down rival Fighting Irish in battle between No. 1 vs. No. 2
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — They strolled into enemy territory, an arena that was loud, rowdy and packed to the gills with 9,149 fans clad in neon green, wearing all-black uniforms. It was a new look for a team determined to write a new ending.
With last year’s national championship banner hanging in the rafters, UConn showed no fear.
Any doubts about whether Christyn Williams would be intimidated in the biggest game of her young college career were erased by a sensational start — a 16point opening quarter. Most importantly, it came during a significant stretch when one of the Huskies’ biggest stars couldn’t buy a bucket. Despite an unusually quiet start for All-American Katie Lou Samuelson, these Huskies showed this time around that things would be different.
In a battle of the top two teams in women’s college basketball, UConn had the upper
hand, topping No. 1 Notre Dame 89-71 on Sunday at sold-out Purcell Pavilion. It was the 122nd straight regular-season win for the Huskies (7-0), who will assuredly take over the top spot in the AP poll this week.
“We found a way to answer everything,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “There wasn’t anything that went down that we didn’t have an answer for. There were times when we looked a little bit disheveled out there, but, for the most part, we knew we were going to get our buckets. Everyone took turns. That’s what we are.
“I don’t think we’re a team of superstars. We don’t have that Stewie or Diana type player on our team, so everybody relies on each other. They learned a lot about themselves today.”
No, the Huskies did not have Breanna Stewart or Diana Taurasi. They did, however, have Williams. Cool, calm and collected, the freshman poured in a career high-28 points, 16 of which came during the
first half. Napheesa Collier added 16 points and 15 rebounds.
“Coach was really harping on me being aggressive,” Williams said. “I thought I executed that well. That was my main focus, being aggressive.”
Added Auriemma: “She’s one of those kids in practice every day she’ll get to the basket against anybody anytime.”
Notre Dame got within two, 55-53, midway through the third quarter before UConn went on a late surge. The Huskies outscored the Fighting Irish 24-12 in the fourth quarter, handing Muffet McGraw and Co. their first loss (7-1).
“I thought our transition defense was poor,” McGraw said. “I thought our half-court defense was poor. Offensively, I thought our execution was poor, and then we lost our poise. And that’s unaccepted.”
All-American Arike Ogunbowale — who knocked off the Huskies 91-89 in overtime with a buzzer-beater at last year’s Final Four — was held to 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting. She had an eventful fourth quarter, picking up a technical foul and an unsportsmanlike foul for separate incidents.
The Fighting Irish, who came into play averaging 91.1 points per game, went just 1-of-12 from 3 and shot 40 percent.
“They got as many open shots today,” Auriemma said, “as they did in March last year. … They missed a lot of open shots, and so did we.”
Samuelson had a rough go of it early, going scoreless (0-for-7) and picking up two fouls in the opening half. The Huskies, though, went into the break up 44-41. She finished with 15 points and six assists.
“I should’ve started off more aggressive,” Samuelson said. “We had people step up, especially what Christyn did tonight, I didn’t do much in that first half, but we had someone step up and do something really big for us.”
UConn’s Megan Walker had 12 points and eight rebounds. Jackie Young led Notre Dame with 18 points.
ODO steps up: Olivia Nelson-Ododa was the lone reserve to play. And the freshman forward made the most of her opportunity, recording five points and five rebounds over 16 minutes. She did most of her work with Collier on the bench in foul trouble.
“I was really surprised by Olivia,” Auriemma said. “I thought she played great. You don’t realize she’s 6-5 and she rebounds the ball.”
New uniforms: Collier was asked postgame if there was any meaning behind the Huskies’ new uniforms. The senior said no, but then added, “You just come in [the building] and it kind of sets a statement.”