No. 1 UConn earns 40th consecutive win, 88-46 over Nebraska
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - UConn's Breanna Stewart believes she's getting better as a basketball player.
That's a scary thought for the Huskies opponents.
The two-time national player of the year scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead top-ranked UConn to its 40th consecutive win, 88-46 over Nebraska on Saturday.
Stewart hit her first nine shots, and finished 10 of 11 from the floor, with three 3-pointers. It was her first double-double of the season, and the 26th of her career.
After scoring 24 points in UConn's opener against Ohio State, she has had consecutive 25-point games.
"I'm shooting the ball better," Stewart said. "My shot feels better than last year, when it was a little suspect at times. That helps a lot."
Katie Lou Samuelson had 14 points. Napheesa Collier added 10 points, making all five of her shots for the three-time defending national champions (3-0).
The two highly touted freshmen said Stewart has been a great role model.
"We really need to learn from her and just keep watching her," Samuelson said. "Do whatever we can to help her this year, but also pick up on what she does and how she plays so we can hopefully fill some of the spots next year."
Rachel Theriot had 12 points and six assists to lead Nebraska (4-1).
Nebraska had not given up more than 47 points in any of its first four games. But the Cornhuskers trailed by 16 at halftime Saturday and were outscored 23-6 in the third quarter.
The Huskies shot 58 percent against a Nebraska defense that had held each of their previous opponents to under 30 percent.
The Huskers, who shot 50 percent from the floor over their first four games, were held to 34.5 percent by UConn.
Nebraska freshman Jessica Shepard, who had been averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds, was held to 10 points and five rebounds.
"Just like a lot of freshmen, she has a lot to learn," Nebraska coach Connie Yori said. "She needs to continue to learn how to play hard and be consistent doing that."
Nebraska hung with UConn through the first quarter, leading by as many as four points early. But UConn took a 19-14 lead at the end of the quarter after a 3-pointer by Stewart, who had 18 points and six rebounds by halftime.
"You watch her now and there's this really, really deliberate way she goes about what she wants to do," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "And she comes from different spots on the floor to do what she wants."
Morgan Tuck hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, and the Huskies put together a 14-2 run that made it 30-16.
Yori used three of her four timeouts in the first half, trying to stop UConn. But the Huskies led 40-24 at halftime.
Saniya Chong also had 10 points for UConn, with eight of those coming late.
Nebraska is the 85th consecutive unranked opponent to lose to UConn, which has not been beaten by anyone outside the Top 25 since being losing 57-56 to St. John's in February 2012.
TIP-INS
UConn: This winning streak is only the fourth longest in UConn history. The Huskies won a record 90 straight between Nov. 16, 2008 and Dec. 30, 2010. They've also had a 70-game streak (Nov. 9, 2001- March 11, 2003) and a 47-game streak (March 23, 2013-Nov. 17, 2014). The Huskies have won 87 of their past 88 games, with the only loss in that span coming last November at Stanford.
Nebraska: This is the earliest Nebraska has lost a game since it went 3-1 to start the 2012-13 season. The Huskers won their first seven games last season and six in a row to start the 2013-14 season. They have nine wins against top-10 teams under Yori, including against No. 2 Baylor in 2005.
BLOCK PARTY: Stewart added three blocks, giving her 10 in three games this season and 298 for her career. She is in fifth place on the school's career list and needs seven more to pass Tina Charles. Rebecca Lobo holds the school record with 396.
UP NEXT
UConn: The Huskies travel to Tennessee to play Geno Auriemma's mentor, Jim Foster, and Chattanooga on Monday.
Nebraska: The Huskers return home to face North Carolina State on Thursday.