10:49 PM ET
After the UConn girlss basketball personnels very first loss to an unranked staff considering that 2012, head coach Geno Auriemma mentioned Thursday that the Huskies are “in a nasty technique correct now as a staff.”
The No. Three Huskies fell 57-44 at Georgia Tech in UConns lowest-scoring sport given that shedding 48-42 to Rutgers on Feb. 27, 2006. The Huskies last loss to an unranked foe was a 57-56 defeat to St. Johns on Feb. 18, 2012, a stretch of 239 computer game.
UConn misplaced guard Paige Bueckers– the Huskies chief in elements, takes and helps– to a knee damage in Sundays 73-54 success over Notre Dame. She is forecasted to be out not less than 6-Eight weeks, and UConns offense had problem with out her. The Huskies are in addition with out guards Azzi Fudd and Nika Muhl and ahead Aubrey Griffin, whore in addition hurt.
The rating was tied 39-39 after three quarters, reflective of a sport being performed at a tempo that suited the defensive-minded Yellow Jackets. Then Georgia Tech outscored UConn 18-5 within the 4th quarter. Of their different loss this season, 73-57 to No. 1 South Carolina on Nov. 22, the Huskies scored just 3 elements within the fourth– and that was with Bueckers, Fudd and Muhl taking pleasure in.
” Were disorganized as a lot appropriate now, from the mentor on down,” Auriemma stated. “There isnt a sense of now we have a strategy of how well perform, how well get a pail, whos going to get it for us.
I presumed Georgia Tech did a remarkable task of that. Their put up players labored very well jointly, in fact managed the sport. Which has actually happened earlier than with this staff.
Georgia Tech was unranked getting into Thursdays sport, however the 7-2 Yellow Jackets had actually been within the very first two surveys of the season, falling out after a loss to Auburn. Their different loss was to Purdue. The Yellow Jackets had actually been an NCAA Candy 16 staff last season.
Coach Nell Fortner, in her 3rd season at Georgia Tech, grew to end up being the fourth coach to beat Auriemma of their very first assembly with him.
” We conserved our composure, and I knew defensively we might extremely well be great,” Fortner specified. “We knocked down extra pictures than they did, and I am fairly cheerful about it.”
Georgia Tech made 22 of 58 from the sector to UConns 18 of 58; the Huskies had been simply 2-of-15 from 3-point vary and had been led by senior guard Christyn Williams 13 aspects. Lotta-Maj Lahtinen led the Yellow Jackets with 15 elements.
Requested if he sees some issues that may be installed by the point UConn faces UCLA on Saturday, Auriemma sounded bleak.
Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
” I do not expect it is gon na get mounted,” he specified. I truly consider what I see. I do not attempt to make up what I am seeing and phony it is one thing else.
” And what I see is a staff that is significantly matted. And that is on me. One method or the other, a way I would not have the flexibility at this time limitation to have an impact on my gamers to guarantee that were in a greater location mentally and physical, to play the type of basketball we need to play.
” Ive often been relatively great in time at making players greater. We get actually excellent gamers popping out of highschool, however they get higher and greater and greater annual. And correct now, that is not occurring.”
CloseMechelle Voepel covers the WNBA, ladiess school basketball, and different school sports activities for espnW. Voepel started protecting womens basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN because 1996.
3 Huskies fell 57-44 at Georgia Tech in UConns lowest-scoring sport considering that shedding 48-42 to Rutgers on Feb. 27, 2006. UConn lost guard Paige Bueckers– the Huskies chief in aspects, helps and takes– to a knee damage in Sundays 73-54 victory over Notre Dame. Then Georgia Tech outscored UConn 18-5 within the fourth quarter. Of their different loss this season, 73-57 to No. 1 South Carolina on Nov. 22, the Huskies scored merely three aspects within the fourth– and that was with Bueckers, Fudd and Muhl taking pleasure in.
Georgia Tech was unranked getting into Thursdays sport, however the 7-2 Yellow Jackets had actually been within the first 2 surveys of the season, falling out after a loss to Auburn.
