UConn survives at UCF

Huskies’ offensive woes continue, but remain perfect in AAC

ORLANDO, Fla. — Once again, UConn’s offense was stuck in neutral, unable to produce with any consistency or efficiency.

Perhaps, the Huskies can take solace in the fact that their opponent’s was worse.

The fourth-ranked Huskies didn’t play particularly well, but overcame their issues to hold off UCF 59-52 on Thursday in their second-closest victory ever in American Athletic Conference play.

The Knights struggled to do much of anything. They were especially woeful in the second quarter, when they missed all eight shots and scored a measly three points, allowing the Huskies

(15-1, 6-0) to grab control.

UConn scored 16 unanswered points in the quarter to go into halftime up 29-16, then held on from there. UCF (9-6, 1-2) climbed as close as nine points at 44-37 with 6:55 remaining, but a 3-pointer by Anna Makurat provided the Huskies with a bit of breathing room.

Three Huskies scored in double figures, led by Megan

Walker’s 19 points. Crystal Dangerfield scored 13 and Makurat added 10.

The victory was UConn’s 126th in a row in AAC play dating to 2013-14, but only the second decided by single digits (63-60 against Tulane in 2017).

The Huskies were plagued by the same problems they experienced in their 68-56 victory at Memphis on Tuesday. Far too many possessions resulted in hurried shots — or, in some cases, no shots at all. During one particular stretch in the first quarter, the Huskies were hit with back-to-back shot clock violations. They finished with 18 turnovers and shot only 38.5 percent.

UCF used a 7-0 run to grab an 11-9 lead, but the quarter ended with the teams tied at 13-13. The Knights sank a trio of free

throws to retake a 16-13 lead, but didn’t score again over the final 7 minutes and 57 seconds of the quarter. It certainly didn’t help that, during that stretch of offensive futility, point guard Kay Kay Wright — the AAC preseason co-player of the year with Dangerfield — spent some time on the bench in foul trouble.

Wright led UCF with 18 points. Sianni Martin scored 10 and Masseny Kaba had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Notable: UConn improved to 12-0 all-time against UCF … The Huskies have won 200 straight games against unranked opponents since losing to St. John’s on Feb. 18, 2012.

Willie J. Allen Jr. / Associated Press UConn’s Megan Walker (3) dribbles while defended by Central Florida’s Kay Kay Wright (2) during the first half of Thursday’s AAC game in Orlando.

Willie J. Allen Jr. / Associated Press UConn forward Megan Walker (3) holds the ball as Central Florida guard Diamond Battles defends during the first half on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.

Willie J. Allen Jr. / Associated Press UCF’s Brittney Smith (32) shoots against UConn on Thursday night.