Connecticut 2 wins away from record 55th victory

STORRS, Conn. -- Diana Taurasi had plenty of help Sunday as Connecticut extended its winning streak to 53 games.

The junior All-American, who has carried the offensive load for UConn this season, scored 18 points in a 69-57 win over Virginia Tech. Three other Huskies, including two freshmen, also finished in double figures in one of the most balanced offensive performances of the season.

"I think today everyone felt comfortable, getting the ball, being aggressive with it and at the same time looking for other people," Taurasi said.

The victory moves UConn within two wins of making history. UConn (14-0, 2-0 Big East) has the nation's longest active winning streak and needs one more win to match Louisiana Tech's record of 54 straight wins, set from 1980-82.

Freshmen Barbara Turner and Ann Strother scored 16 points each. Sophomore center Jessica Moore had a strong inside game and finished with 13 points. The 6-foot-3 Moore took on Tech's physical inside tandem of Ieva Kublina and Erin Gibson, getting both of them to foul out.

"That was a really big goal for me, to try to completely take (Kublina) out of the game," More said.

Coach Geno Auriemma's team has a chance to tie Louisiana Tech's mark Wednesday at Seton Hall. If the Huskies win there, they have a chance to break it at home Saturday against Georgetown.

"I liked how we didn't need to rely on one person," Auriemma said. "Diana didn't need to make every play."

UConn led this one from the start.

Taurasi scored all 11 of her first-half points in the first eight minutes for a 17-10 UConn lead. The Hokies (10-4, 1-2) rallied, hitting four 3-pointers. Kublina's 3-pointer with 7:02 left cut UConn's lead to 22-20.

The Huskies regained control behind Moore's play. She scored seven of UConn's final 12 points in the closing minutes and drew fouls from Kublina and Gibson. Moore hit all five of her free throws down the stretch giving UConn a 35-25 lead at halftime.

Coach Bonnie Henrickson said Moore's improvement from last season is evident.

"She's starting to be a more complete post player," Henrickson said. "You've got to guard her from the high point."

UConn extended the lead to 15 in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Hokies countered with a 14-5 run. Chrystal Starling's jumper capped the run at 9:09, cutting UConn's lead to 53-47. Foul trouble and turnovers kept the Hokies from getting any closer.

Kublina and Gibson, averaging 13 points each, fouled out over the next five minutes. The Huskies shot 80 percent from the line for the game, hitting 21-of-26.

"That was one of our goals coming in, to shoot over 75 percent," Taurasi said. "I think that's just mental, going to the free throw line and knocking them down, and we did that today."

The Huskies were outrebounded 33-26 but still outscored the Hokies in the paint 28-14.

Kublina finished with 16 points. Starling and Carrie Mason had 10 points each. Gibson led the Hokies with seven rebounds before fouling out.

Heartened by the balanced attack, Auriemma is hopeful the Huskies can continue to ease the burden on Taurasi, the only returning starter from the 2002 national championship team.

"I hope we have a run of three or four games like this, but I feel it will be different people every night," he said. "The best way for our team to play is when Taurasi is scoring when she wants to, not when she has to."