Huskies Too Deep For Cougars!

UConn Defeats Houston (Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant)

The Houston Cougars were 4-10 and had already dropped their first three games in conference play prior to facing off with the UConn Huskies. Why would the Huskies, yes, those UConn Huskies at 12-0 and #1 in the nation worry about a game against the Cougars. In fact, last year the Huskies beat the Cougars by 59 points and the year before, by 50. UConn had just beaten Tulsa 95-35 on Wednesday and Cincinnati 107-45 one week prior.

Morgan Tuck was experiencing some soreness in her knee after the shoot around during the day and would not play. Due to Tuck’s absence, the starters for UConn would be Moriah Jefferson, Kia Nurse, Saniya Chong, Brianna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The Cougars would tip off with Chyanne Butler, Kierra Graves, Serithia Hawkins, Tyler Gilbert, and Marche’ Amerson. However, the game was in Houston and the mail notification that the UConn must win by 50 again… apparently was delivered late to the Hofheinz Pavilion.

Game Recap

The Cougars come out hot, Tyler Gilbert hits jumper to start the game. UConn shooting the 3 early and often, but are 0-3 from behind the arc early. Tyler Gilbert hits another jumper, Houston has early lead 10-6 just before the TV timeout. UConn turnover and Kierra Graves makes them pay, 3 pointer to extend the lead to 15-8 for Houston. Gabby Williams and Moriah Jefferson going down low for back to back shots off the glass. End of the first, Houston with a 15-14 lead.

Start of the second, Houston didn’t score in final 2:52 of the first, that’s not in the recipe to beat UConn. Williams hits jumper on first possession to give UConn first lead 16-15. It would be another 2:30 before Katie Lou Samuelson would put any more points on for either team. Followed by a hoop and a foul on Jefferson. Then we would wait another 2:45 before Napheesa Collier would tip in a shot making it 23-15. Houston would end their scoring drought of 9:03 with a Marche Amerson 3 pointer. Gilbert hit a 3 and then another 2, new life for the Cougars, Huskies forced to take a time out 23-20. Breanna Stewart would return the favor out of the timeout though, a 3 pointer and then a layup forcing Houston to take their first timeout. Jefferson ends the first with a deep three, UConn up at the half 31-20. Important stats at the half: UConn 40% from the field, 18% from 3 point range. Houston 28% from the field.

Cougars trying to get back to 1st quarter form, Serithia Hawkins made a three to start the third. Turnovers starting to mount for Houston, Williams and Natalie Butler score off back to back turnovers, lead up to 15 points. Tyler Gilbert is doing everything she can to keep the Cougars close, however, she scored the last 6 points of the quarter for the Cougars, while UConn spread the ball getting 2 threes from Samuelson, one from Nurse and a layup by Jefferson. Houston can only score 10 in the third, UConn leads 54-30.

Houston ends the third and begins the fourth with another long scoring drought, another 8:50. As we all could predict, UConn did not stop scoring. Jefferson with a 3 pointer, Nurse tacked on 6 points and the team added 5 from the free throw line to extend the lead quickly to 40 points. At the TV timeout Ronald Hughey ripped his team, his charge to the team was “about representing and playing for the name across their chest more than the name across their back.” The rest of the way, both teams traded shots, but the game would end with a 76-37 UConn win. UConn moves to 13-0 and has won their 50th straight since the OT loss to Stanford in 2014.

Reflection

Houston shouldn’t have been in this game, but for the first 7 minutes of the game you wouldn’t have known it. Houston played great defense in the first half keeping UConn to just 40% shooting from the field and limiting them to their lowest point total in the first half in 2015-2016. Senior Tyler Gilbert played a great game for the Cougars. In the end, the game turned out the way most predicted, but it was more due to lack of scoring on Houston’s part, than due to the total dominance from the Huskies. UConn has shown that their depth is a key to their success. Although they were missing Tuck, the Huskies controlled the boards with 21 rebounds from Stewart, Williams and Butler. They spread the ball with 4 players scoring 13 points apiece. UConn does not give the ball away, although they were struggling shooting in the first half, they only turned the ball over 3 times, limiting the opportunities for Houston. Freshman Katie Lou Samuelson continues to grow and be a great bench player for the Huskies.

The Huskies move to 13-0, while the Cougars fall to 4-11. UConn heads to #22 South Florida on Sunday, the game will be on ESPN at 5 pm.