The Connecticut Huskies faced an obstacle that could off-set their focus. They had one game to get to 100 wins, but they had to endure some grit and grind out the possibility of making it happen.
The history making game was against #6 South Carolina. South Carolina did not make it easy for the Huskies at all. They swarmed Katie Lou Samuelson and made her shot selection tough, doubled teamed her, and made her give up the ball to her teammates. They forced UCONN to settle for jump shots instead of going to the hole in the first half.
Unsung hero Gabby Williams dominated on both sides of the floor when the Huskies needed a big play or a stop. She stopped South Carolina bigs A’ja Wilson and Alaina Coates from getting into the paint often and utilized her speed to get steals. “They are bigger and taller, and a little more physical than I am. So I had to use my advantages, which are my athleticism, my quickness and being smaller, which actually helps. I can get in the passing lanes.”
The Gamecocks’ bigs combined for 27 points and 20 rebounds.
The 100 win was a team effort, despite getting 23 rebounds, the Huskies had to grind it out. They had to come up with a plan to actually cut down the size of the Gamecocks. Connecticut did what any veteran team would do, which would be to spread the floor and try to speed up the pace of the game.
Williams has lived up to the hype and expectation that goes along with being a UCONN player.
“She’s one that never stops,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “You have to be aware of where she is at all times on the floor. She leads their team in assists and rebounding — it’s quite incredible.”
“I don’t know what was bigger — her rebounding or her heart.”
“I’m proud of how tough and composed we were today; that’s the culture we have here,” Williams said, then added, about reaching 100 in a row, “It’s not the number, really, that’s so special. It was the environment, the fans, the alumni being here, the amount of coverage we had, and how many people were watching the game. That’s what was special for me.”
The game was close until UCONN went on an 11-2 run to secure a 66-55 victory.
