UConn women roll into Elite Eight
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Albany, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Breanna Stewart tallied 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and top-ranked Connecticut had no problem advancing to the Albany Regional final with a 105-54 thrashing of Texas on Saturday.
The Huskies reached their 10th straight Elite Eight and gave Geno Auriemma his 100th career NCAA Tournament win in a most convincing fashion. UConn dominated the Longhorns in all facets while opening up a lead as high as 29 points in the first half, then continued to score at will in the second.
Moriah Jefferson added 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting for Connecticut (35-1), which will take on seventh-seeded Dayton in the Elite Eight on Monday. Morgan Tuck and Kia Nurse contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, to the rout.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Texas (24-11), making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2004, shot just 34.4 percent and committed 18 turnovers the Huskies converted into 22 points.
Ariel Atkins was the lone Longhorn to reach double figures, finishing with 11 points.
Texas was able to stay within striking distance through the first 10 minutes of play, trailing just 26-19 following a 3-pointer from Atkins. The Huskies proceeded to go on a 24-2 run, however, and were never threatened from that moment on.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stewart led the charge by pouring in 10 points within a 2 1/2-minute span, and Nurse followed by burying a 3-pointer that staked UConn to a commanding 50-21 lead with 1:48 remaining in the half.
The Huskies owned a 52-24 advantage at the break, with Stewart recording 20 first-half points and Jefferson 13, then began the second half on an 8-0 tear to all but end any hopes of an improbable comeback by Texas.
Auriemma joins Pat Summitt as the only head coaches to reach the 100-win mark in NCAA Tournament play.