GREENVILLE, N.C. _ Two days removed from an intense battle over No. 23 Tennessee, the UConn women's basketball team shook off a slow start to trounce East Carolina, 98-42, in the team's final road game until Feb. 10.
With the win, UConn improves to 128-0 all-time in AAC play and 18-1 overall on the season. The team returns back to action on Monday in an exhibition game against the U.S. women's national team.
UConn got off to a sloppy start, committing five turnovers in the first quarter alone and giving up a half-court shot at the buzzer that allowed ECU to close in within six. The Pirates then scored the first basket of the second period to make it a four-point game, but UConn burst out on a 28-3 run to end the half, largely fueled by Christyn Williams (10 points) and Megan Walker (11 points).
Anna Makurat got fancy on a fast-break play, catching the ball midair before wrapping it around for a behind-the-back pass to Williams, whose layup gave UConn a 25-point lead.
By halftime, at which point UConn held a 50-21 advantage, Walker had already notched a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds), and Williams had as many points as ECU (21).
The domination continued into the third quarter, as UConn scored the first 14 points before going on a 22-1 run and ultimately besting ECU, 29-5, in the frame. Makurat sank all five of her 3-point attempts in the period, as well as two more to start the fourth, allowing UConn's lead to blossom to as many as 60 late in the fourth
Williams ultimately ended with 26 points, three shy of a new career high, while Makurat wasn't far behind her with 24, all off of 3s.
