STORRS, Conn. -- Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored 23 points to lead No. 1 UConn to a 91-55 rout of Rutgers on Geno Auriemma's 61st birthday Monday night, putting the Huskies into the NCAA Tournament's regional semifinals for the 22nd consecutive season.
Moriah Jefferson added 19 points and Morgan Tuck had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the Huskies (34-1), who won their 33rd consecutive game and 79th in 80 tries.
The Huskies, who hope to win their 10th national championship and third in row, are now 99-17 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, face Texas next week in Albany.
Tyler Scaife (Little Rock Hall) had 16 points for eighth-seeded Rutgers (23-10), which was in its first NCAA Tournament since 2012 and has not made it past the second round since 2009.
UConn had a 20-point lead at the half and ran away from Rutgers after the Scarlet Knights lost guard Briyona Canty to a knee injury less than two minutes into the second half.
The junior twisted her left knee while coming down from a layup attempt. She was starting in place of Big Ten defensive player of the year Syessence Davis, who tore her left MCL in the Big Ten Tournament.
Mosqueda-Lewis hit one of her five three-pointers to cap a 14-2 run over the first five minutes of the second half and put the game out of reach.
The Huskies led by as many as 41 points and shot 48 percent from the field, while holding the Scarlet Knights to 34 percent.
Rutgers led just once, at 2-0. Two three-pointers by Moriah Jefferson stretched an early 13-8 lead to 19-8. Morgan Tuck got the assist on the second basket, her 100th this season. She is one of four Huskies with at least 100 assists.
UConn star Breanna Stewart played just 23 minutes after picking up two fouls, 12 seconds apart, just four minutes into the game. She finished with eight points.
But Rutgers had its own foul trouble. Ariel Butts and Canty each picked up three fouls in the first half, and Kahleah Copper picked up her third less than a minute into the second half.
A 6-0 run Rutgers run made it 21-16 and forced a UConn timeout. Mosqueda Lewis hit two three-pointers and had eight points during a 14-2 run that pushed the lead back to 35-18
The senior, who had just two points in UConn's first-round game, had 16 at halftime and UConn had a 51-31 lead.
UConn is now 34-6 all-time against Rutgers and has won the last 14 meetings between the former Big East rivals, dating back to February, 2008.
Rutgers stayed closer than many. UConn has beaten 18 opponents by 40 or more this season, and have an average margin of victory of 42.5 points.
LOUISVILLE 60, SOUTH FLORIDA 52
TAMPA, Fla. -- Jude Schimmel scored 13 points, Myisha Hines-Allen added 12 and No. 3 seed Louisville reached its third consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 by beating No. 6 seed South Florida.
Louisville (27-6) will face Dayton in the round of 16.
Courtney Williams had 25 points for South Florida (27-8). It was the 20th time she scored 20 or more this season.
Schimmel had an in-close basket and set up Hines-Allen's layup to put Louisville ahead 50-47 with 2:25 remaining. Bria Smith made it 52-47 with two free throws after a USF turnover.
Williams and Alisia Jenkins made layup during a 6-0 spurt that gave South Florida a 47-46 lead with 5 minutes to play.
Sara Hammond had a basket and Hines-Allen followed with a layup as Louisville took a 34-26 lead 2:30 into the second half.
Sports on 03/24/2015