Geno Auriemma gets 999th win, No. 1 UConn dominates DePaul 103-69

CHICAGO -- Katie Lou Samuelson scored 20 points, Crystal Dangerfield had 18, and No. 1 UConn gave coach Geno Auriemma his 999th victory with a 103-69 rout of DePaul on Friday night.

Auriemma is on the verge of joining fellow Hall of Famers Pat Summitt and Tara VanDerveer as the only women's basketball coaches to reach the 1,000-win mark after the Huskies (8-0) had their way with the Blue Demons (6-3).

Samuelson led six players in double figures, and UConn set a season high for points. Dangerfield was 6-of-7 from 3-point range.

Napheesa Collier had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Azura Stevens scored 16 points, Kia Nurse added 13, and Gabby Williams scored 11 to go with 10 rebounds and 7 assists.

Amarah Coleman scored 13 points for DePaul.

All but one of UConn's victories has been by 18 points or more. The Huskies rallied from 11 down in the fourth quarter to beat No. 3 Notre Dame by nine on Sunday. But they put this one away in the early going, overwhelming DePaul with their athleticism.

UConn led 61-38 at halftime after shooting 60 percent. Samuelson scored 14 through the first two quarters, and Dangerfield nailed four 3s in a 12-point half. Stevens (12), Collier (11) and Nurse (10) also reached double digits.

Whether they were hitting from the perimeter or going hard at the rim, the Huskies had their way against DePaul's zone.

UConn went on a 14-2 run in the first quarter to break open a three-point game and never looked back. Dangerfield nailed back-to-back 3-pointers during that stretch. Dangerfield scored on a put-back to make it 29-14, finishing the run. That basically finished DePaul, too.

TIP-INS

UConn: F Batouly Camara made her first appearance for UConn after missing the first seven games with a knee injury and sitting out last season because she transferred from Kentucky.

DePaul: The Blue Demons trail the all-time series 15-1.

UP NEXT

UConn: Hosts Oklahoma on Dec. 19.

DePaul: Visits Northwestern on Dec. 13.