Associated Press
STORRS, Conn. — Breanna Stewart had 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists Saturday to help top-ranked UConn beat Monmouth 100-46 in the Hall of Fame Challenge tournament.
It was the third straight game that Stewart scored at least 20. UConn scored the first 12 points and shot 62 percent in the first half to lead 64-24 lead at the break. The Huskies (7-0) began the second half with a 21-0 run as their lead ballooned to 61 points, their largest lead of the game.
Stewart, who also had four steals and two blocks, was one of five players who scored in double figures for UConn. Moriah Jefferson scored 17 points, Bria Hartley and Kiah Stokes had 14 apiece, and Brianna Banks chipped in with 12.
Helena Kurt led Monmouth (0-5) with nine points. Jenny Horvatinovic added eight points and six rebounds for the Hawks.
PHILADELPHIA — Kayla McBride scored 15 points and Taya Reimer added 14 to lead a balanced offense in Notre Dame’s win over Penn.
This was believed to be the first time a top five women’s team had played at the Palestra since Connecticut faced Saint Joseph’s a decade ago. It also was the Irish’s first game at the historic arena in 32 years.
The game marked the return of Notre Dame forward Natalie Achonwa, who missed the first three games while recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her right knee. The senior was supposed to miss at least a month, but returned in just three weeks.
She started for the Irish (4-0) and had four points in 14 minutes.
Katy Allen and Sydney Stipanovich each scored 11 to lead Penn (0-2).
The contest was Notre Dame’s first road game of the season, although it served as a homecoming for Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, who starred a few miles away at Saint Joseph’s in the late 1970s.
AUSTIN, Texas — Chiney Ogwumike shook off a poor first half to score 18 points, rallying Stanford to a win over Texas.
Ogwumike scored just four points in the first half, but had 10 in a decisive run in the second. The Cardinal (4-1) held Texas to five baskets and 17 points after halftime.
Mikaela Ruef had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Stanford, which earned coach Tara VanDerVeer career victory No. 898, moving her closer to being just the fifth women’s coach to reach 900.
Chassidy Fussell scored 15 points for Texas (3-1), which led 37-30 at halftime but had a rash of turnovers in the second that helped Stanford rally. The Cardinal scored 21 points off 20 Texas turnovers.
Imani Stafford-McGee had 12 points and 14 rebounds for Texas, but scored just two points after halftime.
