Promotional Request Forms

Jan. 15, 2005

Final Stats

By DONNA TOMMELLEO
AP Sports Writer

STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Charde Houston scored a career-high 20 points and Jessica Moore added 19 to lead Connecticut to a 73-57 win over Villanova on Saturday.

The 16th-ranked Huskies (10-4, 4-0 Big East) dominated inside, outscoring Villanova in the paint 34-18 and finishing with a 35-26 edge on the boards.

The Wildcats (9-6, 2-1) had won the last two meetings against UConn, but were never able to settle into their trademark deliberate tempo. Houston and the Huskies wouldn't let them, getting out quickly in transition and finishing off breakaways with easy layups.

It marked the fifth straight double-digit game for the freshman Houston, who owns the California girls' scoring record. She had eight of the Huskies' first 14 points in the second half, turning UConn's six-point halftime lead into a rout.

The Huskies shot 68 percent in the second period and led as many as 22 down the stretch. Moore's breakaway layup capped a 12-0 UConn run for a 66-44 lead with 4:12 left.

In a choppy first half, two free throws by Kate Magar gave Villanova a 24-22 lead with less than five minutes to play.

But Ashley Battle scored the next five points for UConn - a scoop layup and 3-pointer - on consecutive possessions to give the Huskies the lead for good. Battle finished with 11 points.

Jackie Adamshick led the Wildcats with 17 points and Liad Suez added 10.