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Connecticut handles Prairie View in first round bout

Mar 17, 2012 - 9:36 PM Bridgeport, CT (Sports Network) - Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis paced the top-seeded Connecticut Huskies with 21 points and seven rebounds as they ran past the 16th-seeded Prairie View Lady Panthers to an 83-47 decision in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Women's Tournament at Webster Bank Arena.

Bria Hartley added 18 points for UConn (30-4), while Stefanie Dolson chipped in 15 points. Kelly Faris dealt out eight assists to help the Huskies advance to the second round where they will square off with the eighth-seeded Kansas State Wildcats.

Latia Williams netted a team-high 20 points for Prairie View (17-16), JaQuandria Williams scored nine points, and Larissa Scott grabbed seven rebounds.

The Huskies managed to build a double-digit lead less than seven minutes after the opening tip off. Connecticut held a 46-32 advantage on the scoreboard at halftime courtesy of 48.4 percent shooting from the floor and its conversion of 11-of-12 attempts at the charity stripe in the opening period. The Lady Panthers shot 45.2 percent from the floor and made 4-of-8 from three-point range, but fell behind after they did not attempt a single free throw in the first frame.

Prairie View was completely shut down after the break as they managed to score only 15 second half points due to a poor 5-of-23 shooting effort from the floor. UConn kept its foot on the pedal and made 42.9 percent of its field goal attempts while matching its first half performance of 11-of-12 shooting at the free throw line in the final 20 minutes.

The Huskies dominated inside by outscoring Prairie View, 34-10, in the paint and holding a 45-23 advantage on the glass.