Top-ranked UConn beats Nevada 88-57 in Williams’ homecoming

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Gabby Williams had a a hit homecoming, having one among her exceptional games this season.

Williams scored 18 points and No. 1 UConn beat Nevada 88-57 on Tuesday night.

It became a season-high for Williams, who become gambling her first sport at Nevada’s Lawlor activities center considering the fact that she led her high college team to a country title in 2012. Her father, Matt, and sister, Kayla, each played basketball at Nevada.

“It become weird,” Williams stated. “It turned into form of just like the Twilight quarter a little bit. i used to be here all of the time, each week, looking my sister play, up in that front row, proper in which my mother and father were sitting, wherein my sister become these days. Then having such a lot of people messaging me and texting me, people I haven’t heard from considering high college. pretty cool that they still welcome me.”

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma stated he first regarded into gambling at Nevada whilst then-Wolf % head train Jane Albright called him after Williams left to play in Connecticut.

“we try to (do this), for the coolest players, besides,” Auriemma said. “We want to head back home and show them off.”

“The defensive component is what genuinely stands proud maximum of the time when you see Gabby play,” he stated. “She just creates loads for us. She performs the manner Lawrence Taylor played linebacker. unmarried-handedly, she will be able to damage a crew.”

Williams likened the atmosphere in Reno on Tuesday to a “circus,” but said she prepared strategically as though it have been some other recreation.

“She was little excited and a bit bit anxious,” Auriemma stated. “She wanted to make it perfect and i was involved she could attempt too hard to make it ideal. but the ride went approximately the manner she desired it to. … She had a tremendous night.”

apart from Williams, Kia Nurse’s ideal night time from past the arc changed into the distinction in the game, Nevada head coach Amanda Levens stated. Nurse scored 27 points and changed into 8-for-eight from the three-point line.

“She kind of selections her spots and she or he’ll harm you in case you don’t shield her,” Levens stated. “however she isn't somebody who's going to just take over a game with one-on-one play. She just did a wonderful process these days when we tried to close down the alternative action. … She become the huge distinction on this game hitting all the ones threes.”

Azura Stevens added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Huskies (6-0), who shot sixty three percent from the sphere.

It became the highest-ranked group that Nevada ever played and the game drew 7,815 fans_the most in country records for a women’s game.

UConn jumped out to a 31-12 lead after the first quarter, however Nevada (3-three) didn’t depart. The Wolf percent continuously challenged the Huskies and were given them to turn the ball over 17 times.

Teige Zeller led Nevada with 17 points. Sophomore Camariah King introduced 15 points, hitting five of six three-hints.

UConn is the very best ranked crew a Nevada ladies’s basketball group has ever performed. The formerly highest-ranked team Nevada performed become then-No. 4 Louisiana Tech in 1987.

“I’m enthusiastic about the crowd we had this night,” Levens said. “Our network, especially the humans that haven’t visible us play, in case you revel in team basketball and a team that has its backs, I assume they may in reality experience watching us play. I’m enthusiastic about the muse of a larger fan base that I definitely assume we can construct on from this recreation.”

SHARPSHOOTER:

Nurse’s performance was the second one-first-class in UConn history from behind the arc. Katie Lou Samuelson, who is sidelined with a midfoot sprain, made all 10 of her 3s within the American Athletic convention championship game closing season.

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UConn: Auriemma won the 997th sport of his career. He’s 3 victories short of becoming the third women’s basketball educate to reach the 1,000 victory mark.

Nevada: Nevada played its first nationally televised sport in program history. … The previous highest-ranked team Nevada performed became then-No. four Louisiana Tech in 1987.

UP next

UConn: The Huskies return domestic Sunday to face No. three Notre Dame within the Jimmy V traditional.

Nevada: The Wolf percent head to the Maui conventional for a first-round matchup Friday towards No. 21 Oregon country.