BIG EAST teams went 3-0 on Sunday and improved the league’s nonconference to 71-25 for a .740 winning percentage. In addition, all 16 teams in the league hold a record of .500 or better and four squads remain undefeated.
No. 2/2 Connecticut won its 89th straight at home Sunday to set an NCAA record, beating Dayton 78-38 behind freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis’ 23 points.
“To go home after every game they play with a `W,’ I don’t know that that happens very often in very many places,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said. “I love the consistency of our program, and I like how we approach things every year.”
Sophomores Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson each had 11 points and Dolson had seven rebounds for UConn (6-0), which won its three games in the World Vision Classic by an average of over 47 points a game.
The win extended the Huskies Division I record home winning streak and set an all-time NCAA mark, passing Division III Rust (Miss.) College, which won 88 straight at home from 1982-89. The Huskies set the mark for consecutive wins last year at 90. UConn has not lost at home since Rutgers won the BIG EAST tournament final in 2007. The NCAA counts UConn’s postseason games in Hartford and Storrs as home games.
Connecticut also has won 161 consecutive games against teams outside the Top 25, and 254 games against the unranked at home.
Elsewhere, senior Keisha Hampton would not allow DePaul to become the second straight ranked team to lose to Northwestern. Hampton scored 20 of her career-high 32 points in the second half to break open a close game, and No. 23/20 DePaul (5-1) beat Northwestern 88-72 in the Third Annual Autism Awareness game.
“I didn’t even know it was a career high,” Hampton said. “I’m not too worried about a career high. It was a great win for our team.”
“She’s a big-time player. A unanimous All-BIG EAST player,” DePaul head coach Doug Bruno said. “I think she showed why today. She hit some big shots down the stretch in the second half.”
Junior Anna Martin added 21 for DePaul, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.
In Las Vegas, junior Sugar Rodgers scored 16 points, leading No. 21/21 Georgetown (5-2) to a 64-45 victory over UNLV in the Lady Rebel Round-Up championship game. Senior Tia Magee scored 12 points and sophomore Alexa Roche had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Hoyas.
Material from interviews, the Associated Press wire service as well as league and team sources was used in this report.
