STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Top-ranked Connecticut wasted little time against Pepperdine in the Huskies second straight rout.

	In her past two games, UConn's Shea Ralph is a combined 16-for-17 from the field.

Shea Ralph scored nine points in the first five minutes as UConn broke out to an 11-point lead and coasted to a 101-58 win over Pepperdine on Sunday.

"The first five minutes, we think, are very crucial," said Ralph, who finished with a game-high 22 points. "We want to come out with a lot of intensity, a lot of fire."

Ralph, who was 7 of 8 from the floor, has been near perfect in the past two games. She missed her first shot from the floor with 19:05 left in the game. It was her first miss in two games.

The former national high school player of the year was 9-for-9 from the floor on Friday in UConn's 109-66 rout over No. 14 Old Dominion. Against Pepperdine, she hit all eight free throw attempts.

What a difference a year makes.

Ralph was asked to the run the backcourt for much of last year when starting point guard Sue Bird was lost to a knee injury. This year, Bird, the team assist leader with 24, is healthy and supported by speedy freshman guard Kennitra Johnson. As a result, Ralph and Svetlana Abrosimova are usually on the scoring end of a UConn's fast-paced transition game.

"We sprint up the floor as soon as the ball comes off and know Sue's going to make a great pass," Ralph said.

Abrosimova scored 19 points before leaving with bloody nose in the final 6½ minutes.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma said this year's backcourt has allowed Ralph and Abrosimova to find their comfort zone.

"Having Sue and K.J. back there, Shea and Svet are loving life," Auriemma said. "All they've got to do is run down the floor, catch it and do something with it."

UConn's dominance on the boards help fuel the Huskies' transition game. The Huskies outrebounded the Wave 42-29, led by Swin Cash's eight boards. UConn had 58 points in the paint and 18 off the fastbreak.

Rasheeda Clark led Pepperdine with 19 points.

Sunday's game was the fourth in seven days for the Huskies and the home opener at Gampel Pavilion, where UConn is 100-2 over the past six years. It also was the first meeting between UConn and Pepperdine.

Pepperdine coach Mark Trakh had high praise for UConn.

"It's really good for the kids to see up close what makes a great team," Trakh said.