The UConn women’s basketball team was supposed to play the East Carolina Pirates at 7 pm on Wednesday, but thanks to an impending snowstorm, the game was moved up to 2 pm. However, the time change didn’t affect the Huskies as they rolled to a 96-35 victory.
After shooting 10-for-10 last game against Memphis, Gabby Williams picked up right where she left off by hitting her first six shots. Her 16-for-16 streak ended in the second quarter but Williams still finished with 18 points on eight-of-nine shooting along with seven rebounds.
The Huskies jumped out to an early lead thanks to a 16-2 run. Williams, along with Katie Lou Samuelson, powered UConn offensively through the first half as they combined for 30 of the Huskies’ 47 points.
When Samuelson went to the bench in the second quarter to rest, UConn went nearly seven minutes without making a basket. However, the defense locked down the Pirates, who could only get within 16 points. Samuelson returned to the court to spark a 10-0 run to close the half which put the Huskies up 47-21.
Azura Stevens dominated the boards in the first half, grabbing 10 rebounds in just 10 minutes of action. She finished with 16 rebounds along with eight points and four assists.
Out of the break, UConn’s defense continued to shut down ECU. They allowed just one basket in the first six minutes of the quarter, including a five-minute scoreless streak. This allowed the Huskies to pull off a 19-2 run to extend their lead over 40 with an entire quarter still remaining.
The lead would balloon over 50 as UConn had no issues putting the Pirates away in the final quarter. They allowed just 14 points in the second half and 35 total, the fewest the Huskies have allowed this season.
Megan Walker built on her solid performance against Memphis by dropping 10 points and three rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Lexi Gordon scored the first points of her college career finished with four points. Every player scored for UConn except Molly Bent and Batouly Camara.
Katie Lou Samuelson led the Huskies with 19 points and nine assists — the latter of which ties her career-high. Napheesa Collier chipped in 16 points on six-of-10 shooting to go with six rebounds.
Next, UConn escapes the snow and heads to Tampa, FL where they will face the USF Bulls on Saturday at 7 pm.