UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Chris Daley has been the perfect fit for Geno Auriemma as UConn’s head coach.
Daly has won all 14 games the Hall of Fame coach has missed in his 37-year career, including Sunday’s 85-77 win over Florida State in the Hall of Fame Women’s Basketball Showcase.
The school said moments before tipoff that Auriemma was not feeling well during morning shootaround and would sit out the game.
Aaliyah Edwards scored a career-high 26, and Lou Lopez Senechal scored 23.
It’s been an emotional week for Auriemma, 68. His mother died on December 8 and the funeral took place earlier this week. Marcella Auriemma was 91 years old.
“He’s fine. Flu-like symptoms and dehydration,” Daley said. “It’s been a week, both from a game point of view, the amount of games we’ve had to go through and losing your mother. It’s a combination of many things. he feels better.’
While Auriemma was sidelined, the Huskies welcomed back two of their injured players in point guard Nika Muhl and forward Dorka Juhasz.
Muehl suffered a concussion on Dec. 8 against Princeton. Juhas broke his thumb in the Huskies’ second game of the season against Texas and missed the next seven games.
The two made an immediate impact as the Huskies (8-2) jumped all over the Seminoles (11-2). UConn scored the first 10 points and Mule had three assists. Juhasz was blocking shots on the other end as Florida State missed 16 of its first 17 shots and trailed 26-11 after the first quarter. The Huskies led 53-35 at the half.
Florida State, facing its first ranked opponent of the season, would not go away. The Seminoles cut into the deficit in the third quarter and trailed only 67-62 with 1:06 left in the period. UConn made four free throws to close the quarter and go up by nine.
The Seminoles hung on thanks to Ta’Niya Latson, who entered the game ranked fifth in scoring at 25.4 points per game. He had 24 points before fouling out with more than 6 minutes left.
Florida State trailed only 80-76 after Erin Howard’s 3-pointer with 3:19 left, but that was the last point the Seminoles would score before she made one of two free throws with 42.4 seconds left.
Between Howard’s scores, Edwards hit a layup and Mule made a free throw to keep the Seminoles from getting any closer.
“It’s an opportunity going into league play that we start on Wednesday to understand the level of physicality and speed that we’ll face in the ACC on a day-to-night basis,” Florida State coach Brooke Wyckoff said. “I thought we responded well, we hadn’t played the No. 9 team in the country yet. We did it today. We really feel like we’ve learned from it and adapted to it.”
Mule finished with 12 assists and Juhas had 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.
“It was amazing to have Dorcas back. “Putting him on the floor opens up space for everybody,” Mull said. “He can come in. He had five blocks today. That’s amazing. Doing all that while his thumb is not fully healed. His back is great and he’s a big reason we won today.”
OUT OUT
UConn is still without Azi Fadi, who suffered a right knee injury on Dec. 4 against Notre Dame. The school said he would be out for three to six weeks.
ADVICES
UConn is 34-1 at Mohegan Sun Arena with the lone loss coming to Louisville in 2021. … The Huskies improved to 10-0 against Florida State.
NEXT
Florida State. hosts Miami on Wednesday to open ACC play.
UConn. hosts Seton Hall on Wednesday.
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AP Women’s College Basketball. https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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