TicketsJan. 12, 2006
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Mel Thomas had 16 of her 21 points in the second half to lead Connecticut to a 92-71 win over Big East newcomer Cincinnati on Thursday night.
Thomas, who grew up in Cincinnati, hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 20-2 UConn run to open the second half. The seventh-ranked Huskies (14-2, 4-0 Big East) made nine of their first 13 shots in spurt. The run helped UConn finally shake free of the Bearcats (10-4, 0-3), who played the Huskies close in the first 20 minutes.
The second half was a completely different story as the Huskies got their transition game untracked. Ketia Swanier directed the up-tempo attacked and finished with a career-high 10 assists. UConn shot 61 percent from the floor, a season high.
The Bearcats, meanwhile, were held to one field goal in the first seven minutes of the second half and committed six turnovers in that span.
UConn's Brittany Hunter had eight of her 13 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, mostly from close range. Renee Montgomery finished with 12 points.
Karen Twehues hit 4-of-5 3-pointers and led the Bearcats with 14 points. Treasure Humphries added 13.
The lead changed a dozen times in the closely contested first half that closed with a string of six 3-pointers. Cincinnati trailed by as many as six in the period until Twehues closed the gap in a hurry with three straight 3s. The Huskies answered with consecutive 3s from Montgomery and Thomas.
When Kahla Roudebush hit the fourth straight 3 for the Bearcats with 1:52 left, Cincinnati had a 43-40 lead.
The Huskies countered with a layup from Montgomery and a pair of free throws from Hunter and held on for a 44-43 lead at the break. It was most points scored by a UConn opponent in the first half this season. The Bearcats scored 17 points off UConn turnovers in the half.