UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma got nearer to tying late Tennessee coach Pat Summitt's career victory total on Tuesday, as the No. 3 Huskies defeated host Villanova 90-52.
It gave Auriemma 1,096 wins, two off Summitt's mark. But another schedule change for UConn alters the date and opponent for when Auriemma could reach that.
The Huskies now will face No. 18 DePaul on Dec. 29 and No. 7 Baylor on Jan. 7, with the game in Waco, Texas, possibly being when Auriemma can tie Summitt. If the Huskies (5-0, 4-0) were to fall short in one of those games, their next opportunity would be Jan. 9 at home vs. Providence.
Previously, the Huskies were scheduled to face Marquette on Dec. 30 in Milwaukee and again on Jan. 2 in Storrs, Connecticut. Now, those games against the Golden Eagles will be Feb. 5 and March 1, which will be the Huskies' regular-season finale. The changes are part of broader schedule alterations among Big East teams to account for various travel issues.
Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer passed Summitt last week and now has 1,101 victories after beating No. 10 UCLA on Monday. Both the No. 1 Cardinal and the Huskies go into the holiday break undefeated.