UConn’s Stewart leads No. 1 Huskies past No. 3 Irish

Associated Press

STORRS, CONN.

Breanna Stewart scored 28 points and Morgan Tuck added 21 to help No. 1 UConn beat third-ranked Notre Dame 91-81 on Saturday night in the Jimmy V Classic.

This was the latest chapter in the top rivalry in women’s basketball. These two teams have played for the national championship or in the Final Four in the past five seasons, including last season’s title game that Connecticut won.

The Huskies (6-0) have won 43 consecutive games.

For the second straight game, the Huskies only held a one-possession lead at the half. They led 58-54 midway through the third quarter before Tuck started a 20-2 run over the next 7 minutes. She had eight points during the spurt.

The lead grew to 78-56 early in the fourth quarter before Notre Dame scored 13 of the next 15 points to close within 11 with 4:46 left. The Irish could get no closer than nine.

Freshman Marina Mabrey scored a career-best 23 to lead Notre Dame (7-1).

UConn had won its first five games by an average of 38 points. Despite missing Brianna Turner and Taya Reimer with injuries, the Irish were able to hang around for the first 25 minutes.

Without its two posts, UConn made a conscious effort to go inside. The Huskies’ first 10 points came in the paint as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead. They extended their lead to 10 on a spectacular tip-in by Stewart off a miss where she was fouled. The senior star converted the free throw to make it 20-10.

Then sisters Marina and Michaela Mabrey rallied the Irish. They scored 17 of the next 20 points for the Irish to get Notre Dame to 31-30. A layup with 5:15 left in the second quarter by Kristina Nelson gave the Irish their first lead of the game. The two teams traded baskets over the rest of the half as Madison Cable scored nine straight points for Notre Dame. UConn led 45-43 at the break.

Marina Mabrey finished the first half with 21 points to surpass her career best of 19. The Irish shot 47 percent from the field in the first half, including hitting 7 of 10 3-pointers.