Two nights after beating DePaul by 47 points, UConn headed to Rhode Island to put a hurting on Providence, 105-49. Six players scored at least 12 points and sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis led the way with 17.
With just six games left in the regular season, UConn now sits at 23-1 (10-1 in the Big East), and Tuesday's victory is the latest proof that things are coming together for the Huskies as the conference and NCAA tournaments approach.
Against the Friars, the Huskies went to the foul line 30 times (converting 24), while allowing their opponents to just four trips to the charity stripe. UConn also shot 57 percent from the floor vs. Providence's 33 percent, including an 0-for-6 effort from beyond the arc in the second half.
“We generally don’t get to take a lot of free throws against Catholic schools,” coach Geno Auriemma said with a smile after the game (via the Hartford Courant). “Tonight was an exception. Maybe the Pope’s retirement had something to do with it. The officials were a little lax, not paying attention as much.
“But free throws are just a function of how much you are moving [as a team]. When you are standing around a lot, you don’t get to the free throw line as much. I thought we had pretty good movement, our cuts were sharp. We probably dribbled into the lane more than we have in a while and all those things lead to putting yourself in position to get fouled. To me, it’s such an important part of the game that you would be silly not to try and take advantage of it. And I will be the first to say that we haven’t done as good a job of that as we have in the past this season.”
The Huskies also out-rebounded the Friars, 46-31, something Providence coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl alluded to after the game.
"We didn't get to the rim enough," she said. "Any time in this league when you fade, you do not get calls. That's just the way that it is and that's the way it should be. They are going to reward you for going strong."
The win marked the Huskies' 28th in a row over the Friars, and they need just two more wins for their 20th straight season of at least 25 wins. Next up: UConn travels to New Jersey Saturday to face Rutgers.
