No. 1 Connecticut 100, Purdue 50

1/6/2008 4:04 PM

By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -Purdue coach Sharon Versyp found a way to put her team's record-setting loss to Connecticut into perspective.

``Everybody they've played has gotten beaten by 30, 35 points,'' she said. ``We're not alone in this.''

Tina Charles had 17 points and 16 rebounds, and No. 1 Connecticut defeated Purdue 100-50 on Sunday in the Boilermakers' worst-ever defeat. Purdue's worst loss had been by 46 points to Ohio State on Jan. 14, 1983.

Connecticut has won its past three games by a combined 149 points.

``UConn's the best team I've seen,'' Versyp said. ``You can put eight players on the floor, and you can't simulate that kind of pressure.''

Brittany Hunter scored 15 points, Meghan Gardler scored 14 and Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery each had 13 points for the Huskies (13-0). The Huskies shot 49 percent against Purdue and outrebounded the Boilermakers 55-34.

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, notoriously hard on his team even in victory, was singing its praises.

``It was really an incredible performance by us for the most part,'' he said.

Danielle Campbell scored 12 points and Lakisha Freeman added 10 for Purdue (6-8) in the nationally televised game.

Connecticut scored the most points Purdue has ever allowed at home, and it was just the third time a Purdue opponent has scored 100 or more points.

The Huskies also held the Boilermakers to 29 percent shooting, including 1-for-13 from 3-point range.

``I just think we came out way too tentative,'' Purdue point guard FahKara Malone said. ``We needed to be aggressive, and we didn't show that. We were just laying back and letting them do whatever they wanted to do.''

Connecticut made its first four shots to take a 9-0 lead and force Purdue to call a timeout less than two minutes into the game. Purdue finally scored on a free throw with 16:09 left in the first half. Samantha Woods scored Purdue's first field goal with 9:06 left in the first half, but Connecticut led 29-6.

Connecticut was ahead 53-14 at halftime as Purdue tied for its lowest point total in a half. The Boilermakers shot 4-for-26, committed 16 turnovers and had six shots blocked.

``That first 20 minutes was about as good a 20 minutes as we've played at any time this year,'' Auriemma said.

Versyp was disappointed in the way her team played early.

``I was extremely upset at halftime,'' he said. ``I think in the second half we battled, but the pressure was off. We didn't compete at all in the first half.''

Moore, Charles and Hunter combined for 38 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in the first half.

``Our inside presence was intimidating and just dominating,'' Moore said. ``We were either blocking shots or scoring inside or getting rebounds. It's a scary thing when all three of us are clicking like that.''

Tahirah Williams made a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to give the Huskies their first 100-point game of the season. They had scored 90 or more three times.

``UConn is just so disciplined offensively,'' Versyp said. ``Every player is a go-to player. Everyone has the skills.''

The Boilermakers will need an exceptional conference season or a conference tournament title to reach the NCAA tournament. They had been playing well, and were coming off a win at Indiana. Versyp said the Boilermakers will bounce back.

``We'll continue to be on a roll,'' she said. ``Our second half, we changed. If we didn't, I'd be telling you something a lot different.''