Connecticut slams Panther women

The Pitt women’s basketball team’s seven-game winning streak came to an alarming halt Sunday… The Pitt women’s basketball team’s seven-game winning streak came to an alarming halt Sunday night as it lost on the road to No. 1-ranked Connecticut 95-42.

The Panthers, sporting their pink uniforms in honor of the legendary Kay Yow, who died of breast cancer last month, scored just 21 points in each half. It was the least No. 19 Pitt (18-5, 8-3 Big East) scored in one half in school history. It was also the Panthers’ worst loss since 2002 when the Huskies beat them 112-43.

Pitt’s Shavonte Zellous led the Panthers with 16 points and five rebounds. She was the only starter who shot better than 40 percent for Pitt. Shayla Scott had eight points and six rebounds, and as a team, Pitt shot 25 percent overall, hitting 2-of-19 from 3-point range.

Connecticut (25-0, 11-0), the only unbeaten team in the country, darted out to a 22-3 lead at the 14:31 mark in the first half and never looked back. The Huskies had big contributions from just about everyone, as it was the second time this season in which all five of the Huskies starters scored in double digits.’

Renee Montgomery scored 20 points for the Huskies. It was Montgomery’s 127th consecutive start. Before the game, she became the first active player to have her jersey put up in the Huskies of Honor.

Connecticut also had solid production from Maya Moore, who scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She’s scored in double digits for the Huskies in every game this season. It was her 14th double-double on the year.

But Pitt isn’t the only team that’s seen what Connecticut can do. The Huskies have been unstoppable all year. Their smallest margin of victory this season was an 11-point win against Georgia Tech (82-71) in their season opener. Connecticut has already beaten three teams ranked in the top 10 by a margin of 28.7 points.

Pitt hasn’t beaten Connecticut since 1993 — a span that stretches over 24 games. The Panthers have not beaten the Huskies on the road since 1986. Connecticut now leads the all-time series against the Panthers 37-9.

Pitt, which is now 3-4 against ranked teams this season, will face Villanova at home on Wednesday at 7 p.m.