Providence College Athletics
Providence College
(4-21, 0-14)
Connecticut
(23-2, 13-1)
No. 1 Connecticut Too Strong For Providence
2/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb 25, 2004
By DONNA TOMMELLEO
AP Sports Writer
STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Top-ranked Connecticut won its 11th straight Big East regular-season title with a 79-38 victory Wednesday night over Providence College.
Ann Strother had 10 points, Jessica Moore added 10 rebounds and Diana Taurasi had a season-high 10 assists for the Huskies, who were playing for the first time since regaining their No. 1 spot this week.
Connecticut (23-2, 13-1) made its 12th straight victory an easy one with an early 30-0 run that featured five 3-pointers and 76-percent shooting.
The Friars (4-21, 0-14), were held scoreless for nearly 13 minutes in their 14th straight defeat.
Coach Geno Auriemma emptied his bench in the first half. All 12 UConn players scored in the game.
The Huskies, who led 45-16 at the break, have won 18 straight against the Friars, who dressed just eight players. Coach Susan Yow dismissed two players on Feb. 6 for undisclosed reasons and her short bench was no match for the deep and talented Huskies.
Providence has not beaten UConn since 1993, and since then the Huskies have won four national titles and hold the record for most weeks (94) at No. 1.
The biggest disparity was inside, where the Huskies outrebounded the Friars 46-27 and had a 40-8 scoring edge in the paint.
Taurasi was stunning, with her teammates finishing off many of her flashy no-look, behind-the-back passes. She played just 23 minutes and finished with six points.
Jama Gilmore led the Friars with eight points.
