NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The standard for the UConn Huskies has been so high for so long that a road victory over an unranked team feels much like a loss.
And Coach Geno Auriemma makes clear this UConn squad has a lot of work ahead to measure up.
"Maybe because I've said this for so many years, and it didn't come true that nobody believe me that this is not going to be easy," Auriemma said. "This time I mean it. This is not going to be easy, which is good. It's not supposed to be."
Megan Walker scored 25 points, and the fourth-ranked UConn Huskies beat Vanderbilt 64-51 Wednesday night in the program's first game at Memorial Gym since 1992.
The Huskies (2-0) now have won six in a row against Vanderbilt (2-1) after dropping the first two between these programs. But proof of the difference between last year's team and these Huskies is this victory was much closer than last year when UConn beat Vanderbilt 80-42 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
"Things aren't flowing like they have in the past, and we all know it," Crystal Dangerfield said. "Coaching staff knows it, the players know it. We'll figure it out tomorrow, figure something out."
Auriemma hadn't brought his Huskies to Memorial Gym since March 1992 when Vandy ended UConn's run in the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year after the first of its now 20 record Final Four berths. Even with former Vanderbilt guard Jasmine Lister now an Auriemma assistant, the reason for this visit was Dangerfield.
This was Dangerfield's chance to play close to her home in Murfreesboro, 35 miles southeast of Music City. Dangerfield had 22 friends and family behind the UConn bench with friends, former teammates and coaches scattered around Memorial Gym. She even has a couple friends playing now for Vanderbilt.
"This was a nice homecoming," Dangerfield said. "It was a great crowd and everything, but ... we still didn't do what we wanted to do."
She didn't knock down her first bucket, a three-pointer, until 6:07 left in the second quarter. Dangerfield finished with eight points and four assists.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 14 points, and Christyn Williams (Central Arkansas Christian) had 13.
Koi Love led Vanderbilt with 14 points, Brinae Alexander had 11 and Mariella Fasoula and LeaLea Carter each added 10.
In other games involving Top 25 teams, Shakira Austin scored 21 points and Ashley Owusu made a layup with four seconds left to help No. 8 Maryland rally from a 19-point fourth quarter deficit and beat James Madison 70-68 in Harrisonburg, Va. Austin's jumper capped a 28-6 run for the Terrapins, who used full court pressure to get back in the game. Austin's shot gave Maryland a 68-66 lead with 1:20 left. Lexie Barrier hit two free throws with 14 seconds left to tie the game. Owusu finished with 14 points for Maryland (2-1). Freshman Kiki Jefferson had 16 to lead James Madison (2-1). ... Freshman Zia Cooke scored 27 points as No. 6 South Carolina's young, quick guards controlled the pace, and the Gamecocks followed their big win at Maryland by dominating host Dayton, 75-49. South Carolina (3-0) was coming off a 64-54 victory at then-No. 4 Maryland. The Gamecocks' backcourt and suffocating front line were too much for Dayton (2-1), which fell behind by 26 in the second quarter and never recovered. Jenna Giacone scored 18 for Dayton, which shot only 22% from the field. ... Nausia Woolfolk scored 22 points to lead No. 12 Florida State to a 75-41 victory over Jacksonville in Tallahassee, Fla. Woolfolk shot 9 of 14 for the Seminoles (3-0). Nicki Ekhomu, who led Florida State in scoring in its first two games this season with 18 and 21 points, finished with 14, making all six of her free throws. Destiny Marshall scored 20 points with eight rebounds for Jacksonville (1-2). ... Rhyne Howard scored 24 points and Keke McKinney had 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 13 Kentucky over visiting Stetson 67-48 Howard shot 11 of 21 from the floor. Tatyana Wyatt grabbed 10 rebounds to go with her nine points. While the Wildcats (3-0) and Hatters (1-1) both had shooting percentages in the mid-30s and 41 rebounds apiece, Kentucky took 22 more shots with the help of 24 Stetson turnovers. ... Beatrice Mompremier and Kelsey Marshall each scored 16 points and No. 17 Miami beat North Florida 78-55 in Coral Gables, Fla. Miami (2-0), which was coming off an 83-68 season-opening win against Jackson State, got 32 points off its bench. Alexis Gordon led North Florida (1-2) with 13 points and Janesha Green added 10.
Sports on 11/14/2019