By BILL LEVY Click here to see other photo of the game
University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma was all smiles following his team’s 91-52 victory over Vanderbilt in front of 3,177 fans at Germain Arena in the semi-finals of the Gulf Coast Showcase. With the win, the number three ranked Huskies will play the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, who defeated Arizona State 63-57 in the preceding game, for the championship at 8:30 on Sunday night.
UCONN (4-1) had five players score in double digits Morgan Tuck (16), Moriah Jefferson (12), Kia Nurse (16), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (14) and Breanna Stewart (12).
“We got a little contribution from everyone,” Auriemma said. “Everyone took turn. Everyone had a hand in it.”
After building a 52-20 lead late in the first half, the Commodores (5-1) went on a 7-0, with two baskets from Paris Kea and a 3-pointer from Rachel Bell to make it a 52-27 game at halftime. Though Vanderbilt scored the first basket of the second half on Kristen Gaffney’s field goal, they never were able to significantly cut into UCONN’s big advantage the rest of the way.
“It didn’t seem like we were getting a lot (of points) in the first half on our half-court offense,” Auriemma said. Most of it was in transition. In the second half, we got some (points) on the half-court offense. The first half was one of our best halves all season. We got a lot accomplished today.”
Auriemma also had high praise for Nurse, a 6’0” freshman guard from Hamilton, Ontario. In addition getting a career high in points, she also had four assists and only one turnover.
“She has a feel,” he said. “There is something about how attacking she is. She has a feel for the ‘pull-up jumper,’ which many players don’t have. She has been everything I expected; maybe even a little more.”