The unveiling of the finalists for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 was not the only noteworthy event surrounding UConn facing Baylor on Thursday night.
🎥You are going to want to watch these highlights from the Lady Bears’ win over #1 UConn in Hartford! 👏#SicEm pic.twitter.com/7bnOc0VRbH
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) January 10, 2020
All things must come to an end eventually – including winning streaks in sports.
The latest streak to fall by the wayside was the 98-game home winning streak the UConn women’s basketball team was in possession of. That string of victories in the Nutmeg State came to an end at the hands of the defending national champion Baylor Bears, topping Geno Auriemma’s Huskies by a final of 74-58 at XL Center in Hartford.
Monster game to upset #1 @baylorwbb NaLyssa Smith had 20 points 12 rebounds and explains her mindset to @RebeccaLobo and I pic.twitter.com/TyORHG76k8
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) January 10, 2020
🎥 Check out @KimMulkey ‘s postgame interview with @sportsiren after tonight’s win!#SicEm pic.twitter.com/3LyR7cImwM
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) January 10, 2020
🎥Check out what @TeaCooper2 had to say after Baylor’s win tonight over UConn. #SicEm pic.twitter.com/eBD4ja9o6a
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) January 10, 2020
That streak the Huskies had was only one shy of matching the Division I record, which UConn also holds.
The defeat for UConn puts their record at 12-1, the team’s first loss since the 81-76 defeat in last season’s Final Four to 2019 runner-up Notre Dame.
Simply put, Baylor closed. The game was close with the Bears in front 55-52 after three quarters, but Kim Mulkey’s Baylor squad outscored the Huskies 19-6 in a fourth quarter on UConn’s home floor.
Christyn Williams is GOOOOOD.#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/zH76T7UZm6
— UConn Women’s Hoops (@UConnWBB) January 10, 2020
ME-GAN WALK-ER
She gets the and-1, UConn is on a 9-0 run! #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/KwQARtlVda
— UConn Women’s Hoops (@UConnWBB) January 10, 2020
Te’a Cooper, a transfer from South Carolina, led all scorers with 27 points and sophomore forward NaLyssa Smith finished with a double-double, putting a 20-point, 12-rebound outing. Lauren Cox added 16 points to the Baylor cause.
What a play!👀
Steal by Richards and basket by Cooper 🔥#SicEm pic.twitter.com/7oyAxGpI4U
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) January 10, 2020
Lady Bears extend the lead 💪@TeaCooper2 ➡️ @imwithhoops for the basket 👏#SicEm pic.twitter.com/avRcqtU53b
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) January 10, 2020
Christyn Williams led the scoring effort for the Huskies, tallying 21 points on the evening. Megan Walker concluded her evening with 18 points and Crystal Dangerfield contributed 16.
The Huskies look ahead to Saturday afternoon when the Houston Cougars pay the Constitution State a visit. The Bears will fly back to Waco for a Sunday afternoon get-together with Big 12 foe Oklahoma State.
