UConn cruises

Dangerfield, Walker propel Huskies to exhibition win

HARTFORD — It was more of the same for the UConn women’s basketball team in Wednesday’s exhibition game against Division II Trevecca Nazarene. Crystal Dangerfield and Megan Walker whipped and weaved around defenders, Aubrey Griffin brought energy off the bench, and the Huskies rolled to victory.

The final from the XL Center before a crowd of 6,205: UConn 99, Trevecca Nazarene 54.

The convincing victory wrapped up an unsurprisingly easy exhibition schedule for Geno Auriemma and Co. The Huskies, ranked fifth in the AP preseason poll, can now set their sights on Sunday’s regular season opener against Cal at Gampel Pavilion (1 p.m.).

Walker followed up her 28point outburst in Sunday’s rout of Division II Jefferson with 28 points on 11of12 shooting. The junior combined to go 21of27 over the two games. Meanwhile, Dangerfield contributed 17 points and four steals.

With only one player taller than 6feet, Trevecca Nazarene of Tennessee stood no chance of stopping the Huskies around the rim. The Huskies ripped off 54 points in the paint and added 29 points off turnovers.

Griffin chipped in 12 points on 5of5 shooting. All that production came in the first half, as the Huskies raced out to a 7429 lead. Anna Makurat, the Huskies’ other freshman, contributed nine points and

seven rebounds in her second straight start.

The Huskies got off to slow start, hitting just five of their first six shots, but it didn’t matter much. Their opened up a 3313 lead after the first quarter and were nearly perfect from the floor in the second, misfiring on just two of their 17 attempts.

Trevecca Nazarene — guided by Dangerfield’s old high school coach, Chad Hibdon — shot only 30 percent.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press UConn’s Aubrey Griffin reaches for the ball over Trevecca Nazarene's Annaliese Burnett during the first half on Wednesday.