Crystal Dangerfield, Kia Nurse and Napheesa Collier all scored 14 points to help top-ranked UConn rout No. 20 California 82-47 on Friday night.
The Huskies trailed 4-3 early before scoring 23 of the next 25 points to take command of the game. Gabby Williams got the run started with consecutive layups. Later in the burst she made a layup while falling that gave UConn a 22-6 advantage. Sara Anastasieska hit a 3-pointer with 1:41 left in the opening period to end a string of 17 consecutive points scored by the Huskies.
UConn (2-0) led 30-11 after one quarter and wasn't really challenged by Cal (1-1) the rest of the way.
The Huskies had a brief scare though in the second quarter when Katie Lou Samuelson went down under the basket and injured her left foot. She walked off the court with a limp and headed straight to the locker room. She was icing the foot during the second half on the bench. Samuelson had 12 points before she got hurt.
Kristine Anigwe scored 14 points to lead the Golden Bears, who will play UConn the next three years.
TIP-INS
California: Cal had won 17 straight non-conference games, including going 12-0 last season. The team's last loss to a non-Pac 12 team was against Saint Mary's on Dec. 5, 2005. ... Cal was missing Mi'Cole Cayton, who tore her ACL in the Bears season opener. The sophomore guard scored 13 points in that game.
Sports
UConn: The last time the Huskies lost a home-opener was in 1990 to Iowa, which was coached by C. Vivian Stringer. ... Coach Geno Auriemma has 993 wins now as he closes in on becoming the third women's coach to get 1,000 victories.
HONORING LOBO
The Huskies unveiled a banner for Rebecca Lobo before the game. The former Huskies star was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in September. UConn already has banners up for Auriemma and Jim Calhoun, who are also both in the Hall of Fame. She got a long warm ovation from the crowd.
"The fans here are special," Lobo said.
UP NEXT
California: Will play at Brown on Sunday in a homecoming game for coach Lindsay Gottlieb who played at the Ivy League school.
UConn: Hosts No. 15 Maryland on Sunday before heading west for a three-game swing in California, Oregon and Nevada.
