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UConn is now one step closer to a fifth undefeated season in program history after a 75-56 win over Stanford.
The key to this latest victory for the Huskies was that they went on a 16-3 run to start the second of half of the game, with Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scoring nine of those points in the run, turning a 28-24 game to start the half to a 44-27 blowout.
Let's add one more thing. Mosqueda-Lewis was scoreless in the first half, yet she ended up with 15 points. While Stanford tried to make a few runs to get the game to around double digits, UConn answered with a bucket of their own, so the outcome of the game was never in doubt after that fateful second half run.
So how did UConn get to this run? How did the Huskies get off to an apparently slow start to begin with?
In the beginning, Stanford made a quick run early over UConn, getting to a 16-10 lead, thanks to some hot shooting by Lili Thompson. At one point, the Cardinal got to a 22-16 lead with 5:38 to go in the first half. But after that point, Connecticut was able to claw back and tie it up and get back to a lead after a Breanna Stewart jumper. They eventually got up to a 28-22 lead before Amber Orrange finally stopped the Huskies' run from getting any worse in the first half.
At least for what it's worth, we did see UConn Huskies deal with a situation when they were down against a top tier opponent for a good amount of time.
In 1st meeting with UConn, Stanford led for 66 seconds; this game they've led since 16:07 (8 1/2 minutes and counting)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 7, 2014
Stanford ended up having a lead over UConn for over 12 minutes in the game.
Still, even if the Cardinal had a game plan to slow down the Huskies, the bottom line is that UConn just has too many weapons and at some point, their talent just shows, and that is ultimately what happened tonight, in particular for the second half.
There were other things that didn't help Stanford in this game. First it's free throws. Stanford did not attempt a single free throw until early in the second half when Ogwumike got to the line. Then, Stanford took too many perimeter shots instead of taking more shots at the rim, which could have evened the free throw disparity of this game. The final stat in that area? UConn had 24 free throw attempts, Stanford had ten.
Stanford senior star forward Chiney Ogwumike did have 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, all nice numbers for the game, but she only attempted five shots in the first half. Besides Ogwumike, Thompson, and Amber Orrange, there wasn't much help at all on the offensive end. All of UConn's starters however scored double digits.
UConn faces Notre Dame Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in a clash of undefeated basketball teams. And the UConn men's basketball team win their national championship as they face Kentucky Monday, April 7 at 9:10 p.m. ET.
Definitely a great day to be a UConn Husky fan.