January 5, 2010 - 6:43pm
Since I joined you last, Connecticut went on the road (for only its third road game this season) to a quick and scrappy then-12th ranked Florida State team. Coming off the exam break, the Huskies were uncharacteristically slow and sloppy for most of the first half. The Seminoles stayed in the game, and UConn led by just six at the half. In the second half, however, the Huskies turned on their A-game and drew away for a comfortable 78-59 win behind Tina Charles' 24 points and nine boards.
The first half was as challenging as any game (other than Stanford) this season, and showed that quick teams will be a relative challenge for Connecticut. A relative challenge, not a likely win. The Huskies will almost always be able to defend themselves to victory, even when not shooting particularly well. (UConn was just 5-21 from beyond the arc for this outing.)
The next game, against Seton Hall, was another Husky blow-out win at 91-24. The Big East opener for both schools featured the real return of Lorin Dixon, who looked far more relaxed. Her quickness was way too much for Seton Hall's very poor team. Meghan Gardler posted 16 points against minimal competition; it was Gardler's career high and her fourth game of this season in double figures. The three-point slump may or may not be over for Moore, who was 2-2 from beyond the arc. She continues to be aggressive to the hoop, however, and Seton Hall made for yet another team who failed to guard her on the drive, leaving her to finish with 16 points. But Tiffany Hayes, who hit six in a game last season, was still shooting terribly both from long (0-2 in this game) and from the field (1-6).
Which brings us to the New Year, and the second of four games in eight days: South Florida, last year's WNIT champs vs. UConn, NCAA champs.
