UConn Routs Texas In Women's Sweet 16, Reaches Regional Final
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Breanna Stewart had 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to help UConn rout Texas 105-54 Saturday in the Sweet 16, earning coach Geno Auriemma his 100th NCAA Tournament win.
Auriemma became the second coach to reach the century mark, joining Pat Summitt, who finished with 112 victories in her career. They are the only two coaches in men's or women's basketball to reach that milestone.
The Huskies shot a blistering 56 percent from the field and became the eighth team to put up more than 100 points in the regionals. UConn also broke the record for biggest margin of victory in regionals, surpassing the previous mark of 44.
UConn (35-1) led 26-19 midway through the first half before blowing the game open with a 44-9 run spanning the half. The burst started with 13 straight points by the Huskies.
UConn led 52-24 at the half and scored 18 points in the first 3:30 of the second half to finish off the spurt.
Stewart surpassed her previous NCAA Tournament best of 29 points before leaving the game for good with just over 9 minutes left.
Moriah Jefferson added a career-high 25 points -- hitting 10 of her 12 shots -- for the Huskies, who have advanced to the regional final for 10 straight seasons. They have been to the Final Four a record seven straight years.
Texas was making its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2004. Coach Karen Aston has a young roster and the Longhorns may not have to wait long to get back. Ariel Atkins scored 11 to lead Texas (24-11). The Longhorns tried to slow the Huskies down with their big lineup of 6-foot-7 Imani Stafford-McGee and 6-5 Kelsey Lang. Aston went with the pair at the first media timeout and her team still in the game.
It wasn't too effective as the Longhorns couldn't match the Huskies' speed. UConn will face either Dayton or Louisville in the regional finals.
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