The top-ranked University of Connecticut used a big third quarter to blow out the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 79-31 Monday at McKenzie Arena.
In front of 6,104 fans - the seventh-largest crowd in UTC women's basketball history - the Huskies showed why they are the defending national champions, completely taking the Mocs out of anything they wanted to do offensively due to their pressure and their length. The Mocs were constantly forced to start their offense further away from the basket than they'd liked.
The Mocs trailed by eight after a quarter and by 14 at the half. A Queen Alford 3-pointer trimmed the UConn lead to 11 to start the third quarter, but the Huskies held the Mocs without a basket for the next 6:36, scoring the next 16 points to build a 27-point lead. The run was halted by a Sydney Vanlandingham drive with 2:58 to play in the third quarter.
The Mocs would not hit another basket until a Keiana Gilbert jumper with 1:47 left in the game. They were 3-for-23 from the field in the second half and finished with 20 turnovers.
Moriah Jefferson led UConn (4-0) with 16 points and four assists, hitting all five of her shots. Breanna Stewart had 14 points, while Gabby Williams had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Morgan Tuck added 10 points.
UTC was led by Gilbert and Jasmine Joyner's eight points. Joyner added seven rebounds, two steals and four blocks, becoming the school's all-time leader in blocked shots in the first quarter with her 222nd which broke the tie she held with Alex Anderson.
For full story, read Tuesday's Times Free Press.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.