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In Connecticut's 23-year women's basketball history, just two players have averaged 20 or more points in a season.
Kerry Bascom did it three consecutive seasons from 1988 to 1991. Nykesha Sales averaged 20.9 points in 1997-98.
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UConn vs. Tennessee
Connecticut, which hasn't lost and is ranked second and third in the national polls, is young and exciting.
But Tennessee should win this game. Although they're ranked fifth and have already lost two games, the Lady Vols are more experienced and battle-tested. For UConn to win, Diana Taurasi and freshman Ann Strother need big games.
But ultimately, this game isn't that important to either team. It's about bragging rights and adding another chapter to this rivalry. This game is really for the fans. |
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Diana Taurasi could be next in line. The Husky junior, the only returning starter from last season's 39-0 squad that won the program's third NCAA title, is averaging 19.3 points, almost 23 percent of UConn's offense.
Taurasi's history gives us every reason to think her scoring average might increase. Taurasi tends to play big in big games, and with archrival Tennessee, No. 1 Duke and two dates with Big East rival Notre Dame remaining on the schedule -- not to mention the Big East and NCAA tournaments -- her best performances of the year might still lie ahead.
Against Tennessee, Taurasi has been incredible, averaging 21.3 points over four games. In six NCAA Tournament games last season, Taurasi averaged 15 points, and in her 11 NCAA Tournament game appearances, she has scored 153 points (13.9 average).
True, that four-point, 1-for-15 shooting performance against Notre Dame in the 2001 Final Four wasn't that long ago. And Taurasi doesn't have the Fab Four -- Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams -- beside her anymore. But that's the very reason Taurasi's scoring average is so high this season: Although UConn has a handful of talented players, Taurasi is shouldering most of the offensive burden.
When Tennessee travels to Hartford, Conn., to play the Huskies on Saturday in one of the biggest games of the year, the Lady Vols will do anything they can to shut her down, anything to avoid a repeat of last year's January faceoff that featured a career-high 32-point performance from Taurasi in Knoxville, Tenn.
"We didn't have an answer for Taurasi. Diana had her way," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said almost exactly a year ago as the Huskies won the first of two games against the Lady Vols in 2001-02.
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TAURASI VS. TENNESSEE
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GAME
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MIN
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FG
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3FG
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FT
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REB
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AST
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TO
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BLK
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STL
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PF
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PTS
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1
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22
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5-11
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2-6
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0-0
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4
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1
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3
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0
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1
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4
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12
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2
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27
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9-16
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6-9
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0-0
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2
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1
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3
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0
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0
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5
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24
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3
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38
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11-16
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3-6
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7-8
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5
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2
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3
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1
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0
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2
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32*
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4
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31
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7-16
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3-7
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0-1
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10
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5
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3
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0
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2
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2
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17
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TOTAL
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118
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32-59
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14-28
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7-9
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21
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9
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12
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1
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3
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13
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85
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AVG
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29.5
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54.2
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50.0
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77.8
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5.3
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2.3
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3.0
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0.25
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0.75
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4.3
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21.3
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* Career high
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Game 1: UConn's 81-76 win on Dec. 30, 2000, at the Hartford Civic Center; Game 2: Tennessee's 92-88 win on Feb. 1, 2001, in Knoxville, Tenn.; Game 3: UConn's 86-72 win on Jan. 5, 2002, in Knoxville, Tenn.; Game 4: UConn's 79-56 win in the national semifinals on March 29, 2002, in San Antonio.
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| SERIES HISTORY |
| It started almost eight years ago, has produced some of the most memorable games in women's NCAA history and grown into the biggest rivalry in women's college basketball. And so far, UConn has the edge. In the all-time series, the Huskies hold a 9-6 advantage over Tennessee, and have won four of the last five games. UConn has won the two previous games at the Hartford Civic Center. |
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| LAST TIME OUT |
| UConn beat Tennessee 79-56 on March 29, 2002 in the Final Four. The 23-point loss was Tennessee's second-worst defeat in its 90-game NCAA Tournament history, and prompted Pat Summitt to visit UConn's locker room singing praise after the game. It was the only game last season that didn't see a Lady Vols player in double-figures scoring. UConn went on to win the NCAA title with a win over Oklahoma. |
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| NOTABLE NUMBER
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| Counting UConn's 39 wins in 2001-02 and 11-0 start this season, the Huskies have won 50 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation and the second-longest run in NCAA history. Louisiana Tech reeled off 54 straight wins from 1980-82. If UConn keeps winning, it would tie the mark on Jan. 15 at Seton Hall. |
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Melanie Jackson coordinates ESPN.com's women's college basketball coverage. Click here to e-mail the Dish with any story ideas, suggestions or feedback.
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