The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
UConn dials up the intensity
Most complete performance of season in an easy victory over Virginia
HARTFORD — UConn isn’t a finished product — far from it — but the Huskies are at least trending in the right direction. That’s something that Geno Auriemma couldn’t say last week as his team stumbled through wins over California and Vanderbilt.
The latest encouraging signs came Tuesday, as the fourthranked Huskies turned in their most dominant performance to date, hammering Virginia 8344 at the XL Center.
“Our ball movement from Day 1 to today, it’s like, yeah, drastically different,” Auriemma said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, don’t get me wrong. There’s still a lot of work that we have to do, but I like the direction that we’re going in.”
UConn (40) hit its stride early, ripping off a 281 run between the first and second quarters to turn a 95 deficit into a 3310 lead. Virginia missed 12 consecutive shots during that stretch, which spanned 9 minutes and 55 seconds.
“Offensively,” said Megan Walker, who scored a gamehigh 19 points for the Huskies. “we just got back to moving, cutting, and catching people while they’re sleeping.”
Kyla Irwin, a seldomused senior, contributed in a big way. She scored a careerhigh 13 points in 24 minutes off the bench, to go along with six rebounds and five assists.
“You want to feel like you have people on the bench that can contribute, however much that is,” Auriemma said. “Sometimes it’s a little bit, sometimes it’s a lot. I’m thrilled for her. She’s in a really good place.”
Auriemma said there were times in previous seasons that Irwin tried to do too much. He believes that’s changed, and for the better. Irwin — who started against Cal and scored seven points off the bench against Temple — agreed.
“I feel more calm and confident out there,” she said. “I’m a senior now, and I understand what we’re trying to do, what we’re looking for, and what we’re trying to execute. I think that definitely helps, and makes me feel more comfortable just doing the things I know I’m good at.”
Christyn Williams scored 13 points and Anna Makurat contributed 10 points, including the first 3pointer of her collegiate career. Following that secondquarter shot, which snapped an 0for11 skid from beyond the arc, Auriemma raised his arms to the sky and did a pirouette, as if to say, “Finally!.”
Makurat, who added six rebounds and five assists, missed Auriemma’s reaction. She did notice the crowd’s thunderous applause, though.
“The crowd cheered for so long,” she said with a laugh. “I think I won’t forget it.”
Added Auriemma, jokingly: “I’ve got to see it on film. I still don’t believe it.”
The Huskies smothered Virginia’s offense, holding the Cavaliers to 24 percent shooting. The Huskies led by as many as 41.
UConn will return to the road Sunday (3 p.m.) to take on Ohio State. Notable: Gov. Ned Lamont was in attendance, seated behind the UConn bench … Canadian wing Aaliyah Edwards signed her national letter of intent to UConn on Tuesday. Edwards, a 6foot2 wing from Canada, is the No. 26 prospect in the Class of 2020, according to ESPN.