College of Charleston
UConn
Women?s Hoops Falls to No. 3 UConn in Gulf Coast Showcase Opener
11/29/2014 4:42:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ESTERO, Fla. – College of Charleston women's basketball fell to defending national champions UConn on Friday night, 85-24, in front of 3,987 fans at the Germain Arena in the opening round of the 2014 Gulf Coast Showcase.
Senior Erin Hall scored 11 points for the Cougars (0-5), who as a team forced 23 turnovers against the Huskies, but it wasn't enough as UConn (3-1) shot over 50% from the field and dominated the glass 59-30, handing The College its fifth loss of the season.
The Cougars hung tough in the game's early stages, playing a match-up zone defensively and forcing the nine-time national champions in to three turnovers within the opening minute. However, it wasn't long before the Huskies settled in to the game as 2014 Naismith Award winner Breanna Stewart began to control play – knocking down two open jumpers and providing an assist to give her team an early 8-0 advantage. The Cougars quickly clawed their way back, courtesy of a pull-up jumper from junior Shannon Hines and a baseline triple from Hall to make it 10-5 before the Huskies rode a 20-2 run – capped by a transition lay-up from Morgan Tuck with 7:43 left in the half – to take commanding 30-7 lead. UConn Senior Kaleena Mosqueda Lewis shot five-of-nine from behind the arc in the first half as the Huskies then extended their advantage 37, taking a 50-13 lead in to the locker room at halftime.
The Cougars continued to fight in the second half, but UConn proved too tough, outscoring CofC 35 to 12 and holding the maroon and white to just 16% from the field, eventually walking away with a 85-24 victory.
“There are some positives to take away from the way we played tonight,” said College of Charleston head coach Candice M. Jackson. “I'm proud of our defensive effort; we were scrappy and forced a lot of turnovers. Going forward we're going to have to get better at closing down shooters, but when you're playing a UConn team that moves the ball around so well – it's difficult. I think we learned some lessons tonight that will help us both throughout the rest of this tournament and as we try to build towards our best by the beginning of conference play – which is our ultimate goal.”
Next up for The College is a second round match-up with the University of Minnesota tomorrow at Germaine Arena, where tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. (ET). The Golden Gophers fell to Vanderbilt on Friday, 71-54.
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