Breanna Stewart, Top-Ranked UConn Overwhelm Tulane 96-38

Breanna Stewart made her first seven shots in a 20-point performance and No. 1 UConn easily remained unbeaten with a 96-38 victory over Tulane on Wednesday night.

Moriah Jefferson scored 16 points, Gabby Williams 15 and Katie Lou Samuelson 14 for the Huskies (21-0, 11-0 American Athletic Conference), who led wire-to-wire and won by at least 40 points for the 14th time this season.

Tulane struggled to match up with the quick, lanky and accurate Stewart, whose 6-foot-4 height and long arms allowed her to shoot easily over defenders who lost track of her for even a moment before she received a pass.

Her first three baskets were mid-range, catch-and-shoot jumpers on UConn's first three possessions. She left the game in the third quarter with her team up by 55.

Leslie Vorpahl scored 11 points and Kolby Morgan 10 for Tulane (15-7, 6-4), which shot a season-worst 28.8 percent (15 of 52).

Stewart opened the scoring 11 seconds into the game and wound up with eight of UConn's first 10 points while assisting on the Huskies' other basket, a layup by Morgan Tuck.

Jefferson's steal and breakaway layup gave UConn its first double-digit lead at 12-2 and the Huskies kept piling on from there.

Before nine minutes had elapsed, Stewart had added a pair of three-point plays on layups as she was fouled, giving her 14 points and the Huskies a 25-6 lead.

By the end of the first period, it was 30-8.

There were still eight minutes left in the first half when Jefferson's left corner 3 gave UConn its first 30-point lead at 39-8.

Stewart scored 18 of her points in the first half, when she made all six of her shots and all six of her free throws. Playing just 24 minutes in the game, Stewart also had seven assists, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

TIP-INS

UConn: The Huskies have now won 98 straight vs. unranked opponents and have won 105 of their last 106 games overall. ... UConn improved to 11-0 this season on the road, where its average margin of victory is about 44 points.

Tulane: Tulane fell to 10-3 at home, shooting well below its 45.8 percent accuracy in its 12 previous home games. ... Tulane fell to 0-3 against ranked opponents this season, but its previous two such losses were each by single digits. ... Tulane had not allowed more than 83 points or scored fewer than 51 points in any previous game this season.

UP NEXT:

UConn: Hosts East Carolina on Saturday.

Tulane: Visits Houston on Saturday.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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