Tuck scores 22, top-ranked UConn pulls away from No. 22 USF

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Morgan Tuck had 22 points and 12 rebounds, helping No. 1 UConn overcome cold shooting to pull away to a 75-59 victory over No. 22 South Florida on Sunday night.

Breanna Stewart finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies (14-0, 4-0 American), who extended their winning streak to 51 games despite shooting 38 percent in the opening half, when USF (10-4, 3-1) led by as many as eight points before the three-time defending national champions gradually took control.

Courtney Williams led USF with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Kitija Laksa followed up on a 38-point performance against SMU with 17 for the Bulls, who fell to 0-18 all-time against UConn.

The Huskies blew the game open in the fourth quarter, with Tuck, Moriah Jefferson and Katie Lou Samuelson hitting 3-pointers to turn a nine-point cushion into a 62-44 lead. The Huskies led by as many as 21 before USF made one last push, trimming its big deficit to 12 while Stewart was on the bench with four fouls.