Huskies Hammer Memphis

By Bob Phillips

Megan Walker led the scoring parade with a double-double (26 points,
11 boards) to lead UConn to a 39-point victory over Memphis.

STORRS—After experiencing an unheard-of loss at home to the No. 3 Oregon Ducks on Monday at

Gampel Pavilion, the No. 4 University of Connecticut women’s basketball team rebounded with a resounding 94-55 thumping of the Memphis Tigers before 7,306 raucous fans at Gampel on Friday night.

Now that’s more like it!

Megan Walker led all scorers with 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Christyn Williams added 20 points and Olivia Nelso-Ododa chipped in with 19 (going 9-for-9 from the field) for the Huskies. Madison Griggs scored 15 points for Memphis (12-11, 3-7), which lost for the first time in three games.

Williams opened the scoring with a 3-pointer from the right baseline, UConn scored the first seven points and never trailed. Freshman Anna Makurat had five of her season-high 11 assists in the first quarter and the Huskies had the game well under control, taking a 16 point lead, 27-11, at the first turn.

In the second quarter, Connecticut opened up a 39-17 lead on one of Williams’ four treys, and entered the locker room leading 54-23 at intermission. While the fat lady wasn’t singing just yet, a Memphis comeback was highly improbable.

In the third, Walker took control. The 6-1 junior forward from Chesterfield, VA, almost put up a double-double—just in the third quarter—by scoring 14 points and hauling down nine boards in the period. By the time she was through with her dominating display of athleticism, Connecticut led by an insurmountable 41-point margin, 79-38, at the third pole.

Good night, Irene.

Polish star Anna Makurat turned in a season-high 11-assist effort.

For the game, the Huskies shot a blazing 59.4 percent from the floor, including a red-hot 11-for-24 (45.8 percent) from beyond the arc. They outscored the Tigers 46-24 in the paint, and totally dominated in transition, outscoring Memphis 31-6 on fast-break points.

“It feels good to finally have a good game from everyone,” said Makurat, who, herself, was a little off, shooting just 1-for-5 from the floor, including 0-for-4 from beyond the arc. She more than made up for it, with a little Larry Bird-type performance, dishing out 11 assists. Bird, of course, would always make up for a bad shooting performance by excelling in another area. The Polish star also had a game-high four steals. “Nobody had a bad game today. Everyone played well. It was finally fun to play, and play together. I think it was fun for our fans to see us have a good overall game. We took a lesson from the Oregon game, and we just have to get better day by day.”

Christyn Williams popped in 20, including four
from downtown.

With the win, the Huskies maintained a perfect 130-0 record in American Athletic Conference play, including regular season and postseason tournament play. UConn is 112-0 in regular season American play, and has won all six conference tournaments.

How different was this one from the Oregon loss? Consider this: The Ducks shot 47.6 percent vs. the Huskies, outscoring Connecticut 44-14 in the paint. Ouch! But after regrouping, the Huskies returned to their normal dominant game in the paint, outscoring Memphis 46-24 down low and holding thethat’s more like it!

Tigers to 32 percent from the field. Now

“I’m proud of these guys for how they responded,” said UConn head coach Geno Auriemma after the contest.

The Tigers are happy they won’t be playing the Huskies on a regular basis after UConn leaves the American for The Big East next season. Memphis is 0-12 all-time against Connecticut, including a 12-point loss in Memphis on Jan. 14.

THE SKINNY

There is no rest for the weary, however, as the Huskies now travel to Columbia, SC, where they will challenge Dawn Staley and her No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks on Monday night. It will be the Huskies last non-conference game this season. Tip-off is at 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

—with staff reports

Bob Phillips is the Editorial Director at InsideCTSports.

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