Wake Forest University
Connecticut
Wake Forest Falls To No. 1 Connecticut
12/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2000
By DONNA TOMMELLEO
Associated Press Writer
STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Svetlana Abrosimova scored 16 points and Tamika Williams had a game-high four steals as No. 1 Connecticut cruised to a 107-52 victory over Wake Forest on Friday.
The Huskies (8-0) harassed the Demon Deacons (7-3) from the opening tip, forcing the visitors into 16 first-half turnovers. UConn, meanwhile, played surehanded ball for most of the period and didn't commit a turnover in the first nine minutes.
Eight players contributed to UConn's opening 27-7 run in the first eight minutes. The overmatched Demon Deacons stumbled into foul trouble early and UConn was shooting bonus free throws with just six minutes gone. The Huskies had a 49-25 lead at halftime.
UConn shifted into offensive high gear in the second period, shooting 76 percent. By the time reserve Christine Rigby banked in a shot to give UConn a 91-43 lead at 6:09, the Huskies had made 14 of their first 17 shots and finished out the period 19-for-25.
Defensively, all but three Huskies had steals as UConn scored 41 points off 28 Wake Forest turnovers. Sue Bird and and Shea Ralph each had three of UConn's 19 steals.
The Huskies got another big boost from the bench. Freshman reserve Diana Taurasi had 13 points and a team-high five rebounds. Kennitra Johnson had 12 points and two steals in just 13 minutes.
It was the first meeting of the teams and a homecoming for Wake coach Charlene Curtis, a former UConn assistant from 1995-97.
The game also marked the return of UConn center Kelly Schumacher, who sat out six games with a stress fracture in her right leg. The 6-foot-5 Schumacher had NCAA-best nine blocks in last season's title game against Tennessee. In 15 minutes Friday, she scored eight points, had three rebounds and one block.
Eafton Hill led Wake Forest with 11 points and Kristen Shaffer added 11. Brenda Kirkpatrick led the Demon Deacons with six rebounds.
