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Top-ranked UConn beats Richmond 86-37

Nov 29, 2009 - 3:37 AM By PAT EATON-ROBB Associated Press Writer

STORRS, Conn.(AP) -- Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma says he doesn't believe in labeling his guards.

His two starters both play point at times, and shooting guard at others.

Caroline Doty scored 17 points Saturday and Tiffany Hayes had 15 points, seven assists and no turnovers and the top-ranked Huskies routed Richmond 86-37 Saturday night in the WBCA Classic.

"If you play for us and you're a guard, you should be able to catch and pass and dribble and shoot it," Auriemma said. "Both of them can do that."

UConn (5-0) hit 13 shots from 3-point range, including 10 in the first half to set a school record. Doty, who was one point off her career high, hit five of her seven shots from behind the arc, while Maya Moore had three 3s.

"Our post players gave us opportunities by screening and opening up," Doty said. "They went behind the screen on defense, which gave us the green light to go ahead and shoot the 3, and we took it."

Brittani Shells had 12 points to lead Richmond (4-2), which beat Clemson 86-67 on Friday in the first game of the tournament.

Spiders coach Michael Shafer said the plan was to force UConn outside and keep the Huskies from scoring layups.

"We did not intend to give them open shots," he said. "And I thought that's exactly what happened. We did not contest their shooters and they hit them."

Connecticut has won 44 consecutive games, each by at least 10 points, and has won four of its five games this season by more than 40.

Auriemma had criticized the Huskies on Friday for allowing Hofstra to stay within a point of his team through the first few minutes of their opening-round game.

UConn responded by jumping out to a 14-0 lead on Saturday. Abby Oliver scored the Spiders' first points almost 6 minutes into the game.

A 16-0 UConn run later in the half made it 41-6. Doty had 14 of her points at intermission, including four of the Huskies' 3-pointers, and UConn went into the break up 51-14.

UConn opened the second half on an 8-2 run and built the lead from there.

Tina Charles had 13 points, freshman Kelly Farris had 12 and Moore added 11 for UConn, which shot 60 percent from the floor and 62 percent from 3-point range.

UConn held the Spiders to 34 percent shooting, the 194th straight time the Huskies have held an opponent under 50 percent.

"I don't know that defensively, we could play any better than that," Auriemma said.

On Sunday, the Huskies will go for their 38th straight win and 13th straight title at an in-season tournament when they play Clemson. The Tigers are 1-1 in this tournament, losing 86-67 to Richmond on Friday and beating Hofstra 69-68 on Saturday.

UConn, which beat Hofstra 91-46 to give Auriemma his 700th win, is in the middle of a seven-game homestand, which concludes with a Dec. 23 showdown against No. 2 Stanford.

"I think it's the one after 700 that separates you from everyone else," Auriemma joked. "No question about that."