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Huskies try to set record at home

Associated Press
Published January 2, 2004

HARTFORD, Conn. - The plan is simple and the results beyond question.

"Our approach is we're not going to lose at home," Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma said.

The top-ranked Huskies stay true to their word and have a chance to rewrite the record books.

Four-time national champion UConn (9-0) already holds the record for longest win streak at 70 games set last season. A victory against No.4 Duke on Saturday at Hartford Civic Center would be its 70th straight home win, breaking the mark it shares with Tennessee.

The nationally televised game features a marquee matchup of two of the game's best players - the Huskies' Diana Taurasi and the Blue Devils' Alana Beard.

"We don't cross (the wins) out on the chalkboard," Taurasi said. "You just play the game and it's a little added bonus. Coach always says if you get a chance to put your name in the record books, you should take advantage of it."

Taurasi, a senior All-American, has not lost at home and hardly anywhere else. The Huskies are 117-4 in the Taurasi era, winning back-to-back titles along the way.

The Volunteers handed UConn its last home loss, 72-71 on Feb.2, 2000.

"A team might come in and outplay us and beat us," Auriemma said. "But we're not going to play poorly and give you the basketball game."

Beard has made it clear that Duke (9-1) has not forgotten last season's game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils were No.1 at the time, and the Huskies won 77-65 before a sellout crowd of 9,314.

"I truly believe that every one on our team felt we were embarrassed on our home court," Beard said. "Anytime you have a chance to play again, it's a revenge game."

NO.6 MINN. 64, MICH. 44: Lindsay Whalen scored a season-high 32 to lead the Golden Gophers.

Whalen, who outscored the Wolverines 21-20 in the first half, reached 30 for the second straight game. Minnesota (11-0) won its school-record 16th straight home game.

The Gophers, who came in leading the nation with a 54.2 field-goal percentage, shot 21-for-41 against Michigan (7-7).

Jennifer Smith scored 16 to lead the Wolverines, who were held to 13-of-47 from the field and made 11 turnovers. Michigan played without leading rebounder Tabitha Poole, who missed the game for personal reasons.

TAMPA 86, NORTHWOOD 74: Shawtavia Mathis scored a career-high 28 and had six assists and six steals to lead the host Spartans. Vanessa Hubbard added 16 points, Jamie Skinner had 14 points and five rebounds and Yushanda Morse 11 points and seven rebounds.

BENTLEY 72, ECKERD 58: The Falcons went on a 9-2 run to end the first half and scored 37 in the second to defeat the host Tritons. Qunisha Rush had a team-high 17 points for Eckerd.

TEXAS TECH 90, MINN. 73: Jarrius Jackson scored 20 for the host Red Raiders.

Texas Tech (11-2) shot the ball well, especially in the second half when it scored on 12 of 13 possessions. The Red Raiders shot 58 percent from the field, hitting 34-of-60, and had five players in double figures.

Andre Emmett scored 17, Darryl Dora 15, Robert Tomaszek 11 and Ronald Ross 10.

After trailing by 12 at halftime, the Golden Gophers (6-4) cut the margin to seven in the opening minutes of the second half. Texas Tech went on a 10-2 run to go up 56-41 with 14:58 left, and Minnesota never threatened again.

SETON HALL 79, R.I. 67: Andre Barrett scored 23 and had 12 assists to lead the Pirates.

The win was the team's sixth straight and 13th straight at home, Seton Hall's longest home winning streak since 1995.

The victory avenged a 61-60 loss to the Rams in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament in March.

The Pirates (9-2) are off to their best start since the 2000-01 season, when they were 10-2.

Dawan Robinson scored 19 and Scott Hazelton added 13 for Rhode Island (10-3).

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