Griffin, UConn slam Temple
UNCASVILLE — UConn needed a jolt, a spark, a big shot here or a clutch defensive play there to reinvigorate things.
Most of all, they needed someone to be bold and not skittish.
Aubrey Griffin was more than willing to fill that role. Of course she was. The fearless freshman rose off the bench late in the first quarter Saturday and supplied a jolt of energy equivalent to a shot of espresso.
Temple had no answer for her, as Griffin and the top-seeded Huskies rolled to a 94-61 victory in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena. It was the 137th straight win in league play for the Huskies (27-3), who advanced to face South
Florida in the semifinals on Sunday (4 p.m.).
“She just came in and she changed the entire game,” Temple coach Tonya Cardoza said. “I think she gave them the energy they needed. She got some offensive rebounds and got to the free-throw line. She was the spark that they needed.”
Griffin, all 6-foot-1 of her, sprinted up and down the floor, fought for rebounds and did pretty much everything coach Geno Auriem
ma expected her to do.
“Her ability to pressure the ball and her ability to go get the ball when it comes off the rim, it’s unique,” Auriemma said. “Some people just have a knack for it, and she does. She has the God-given ability to go get it.”
Griffin — subbed into the game with 2:12 remaining in the first quarter and UConn leading 12-11 — helped the Huskies overcome a lackadaisical start. She had a double-double at halftime and finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds and three steals — in just 22 minutes of court time. Five other Huskies joined her in double figures, led by Crystal Dangerfield with 22 points.
Megan Walker scored 17 points, Anna Makurat contributed 14 and Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa had 12 apiece for the Huskies, who shot a healthy 46 percent. They drained 14 3-pointers, six by Dangerfield.
Mia Davis, the AAC’s second-leading scorer, contributed 21 points for the Owls, who finished their year at 16-15.
On her first possession, Griffin grabbed an offensive rebound and got to the free-throw line, something she did with regularity (11 of 17). The Huskies closed the first quarter up 15-13 and took off from there, extending their lead to as many as 20 points on two different occasions in the second.
UConn rolled into halftime ahead 47-28. At that point, Griffin already had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
“She helped change the momentum of the game offensively and defensively,” Williams said. “She just brings so much to the table.”
Griffin had shown flashes earlier this season while receiving a steady allotment of minutes in reserve. There was a breakout game against Seton Hall in December (25 points and 12 rebounds), followed a month later by another outstanding effort versus Tennessee (13 points, seven rebounds, five steals). Fortunately for the Huskies, Griffin said her confidence has only grown since those games.
“I definitely feel more comfortable now,” Griffin said. “I’m posting up more, and when I get to the freethrow line now I’m more comfortable with my shot.”
USF advances: Fourthseeded South Florida defeated fifth-seeded Tulane 64-50 on Saturday behind a career-high 28 points by Sydni Harvey. Elena Tsineke chipped in 14 points for the Bulls, who improved to 19-12 overall.
Arsula Clark led Tulane with 25 points.
Notable: UConn improved to 15-2 all-time against Temple … Walker is one of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award, given to the national player of the year.