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Connecticut cruises in first round of NCAA Tournament

Mar 24, 2014 - 2:24 AM Storrs, CT (SportsNetwork.com) - Breanna Stewart registered a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds as the UConn Huskies demolished the Lady Panthers of Prairie View A&M, 87-44, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Lincoln Region at Gampel Pavilion.

Also scoring in double figures for top-seeded and top-ranked UConn (35-0) were Bria Hartley with 16 points, Moriah Jefferson 14, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 13 points and eight rebounds, followed by Stefanie Dolson with 11 points, six boards and six assists. Off the bench, Kiah Stokes added 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.

The 16th-seeded Lady Panthers (14-18) were led by LaReahn Washington who dropped in 13 points, but she shot only 5-of-14 from the floor and missed all four chances beyond the arc on the night.

UConn opened the meeting on a 15-0 run, holding the visitors scoreless until the 14:27 mark of the first half. The Lady Panthers were limited to a feeble 5-of-36 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-17 beyond the arc in the period, en route to the 44-12 margin at the break.

The second half began much like the first as the Huskies opened with a 16-0 run, cruising to the eventual win in front of the hometown crowd. UConn connected on 53.3 percent from the field in the second half, 8-of-15 on the perimeter.

The Huskies, who survived 18 turnovers in part by registering a huge 52-28 advantage on the glass, will be back on the hardwood Tuesday night in the second round of the tournament versus the St. Joseph's Hawks.