#1 UConn Too Much For Women's Basketball at BIG EAST Tourney

UNCASVILLE, Conn. --  In a rematch of last year's BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament final, top-ranked Connecticut defeated fifth-seeded Creighton, 100-51,  in semifinal round action on Sunday, March 8th at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Connecticut (33-0) will play for its sixth straight BIG EAST Tournament title on Monday night against the winner of this afternoon's second semifinal between Seton Hall and Villanova. 

Connecticut scored the game's first seven points and led 27-4 after connecting on 11 of its first 13 shots from the field.  Creighton trailed 29-9 after the first quarter, with KK Arnold and Sarah Strong each scoring nine for the Huskies. CU shot just 3-for-10 in the opening 10 minutes and UConn turned nine Bluejay turnovers into 15 points and 13 fast break points.

A 13-4 Bluejay run helped the Jays trim the deficit to 31-17, but a 15-0 answer from the Huskies in the ensuing four minutes ended any hopes of a Bluejay upset. The Huskies took a 57-22 lead into the half, shooting 64.9 percent from the field and 8-of-10 from three-point land before the break. Strong finished the first half with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting while also tying her career-high with six steals and adding four rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks. Arnold was perfect on seven first half shots and had 15 points after two quarters.

Eight different Huskies scored in the third quarter as UConn's lead grew to 82-38, and Creighton got no closer in the final frame.

Townsend shook off a mid-game ankle injury to lead Creighton with 13 points. The Bluejays shot 33.3 percent from the field and made 9-of-33 three-point tries.  Grace Boffeli topped the Jays with seven rebounds while Allison Heathcock dished four assists.

Strong finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three blocks in 25 minutes. Arnold was 8-for-9 from the field and registered 18 points in 15 minutes. UConn shot 57.1 percent for the game, won the rebound battle 43-25, and owned a 23-2 edge in fast break points. UConn's 100 points were a a program record for a BIG EAST Tournament game, and the Huskies' 38th straight league tournament victory.

Creighton (16-15)  will wait to hear their name called next Sunday in search of the program's sixth straight postseason bid.