College basketball: Dayton women fall to No. 4 UConn

Dayton’s second visit from a top 10 women’s basketball team this season went about like the first one. The Flyers kept it close for most of the first quarter before a hot-shooting run started No. 4 UConn on its way to a 75-37 victory at UD Arena.

Dayton (3-3) lost at home to No. 6 South Carolina 75-49 on Nov. 13. Next for the Flyers is No. 23 Gonzaga at 1:30 Friday in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Florida. The Flyers will play three games in three days in Florida before returning home Dec. 5 to play Morehead State.

UConn (6-0) scored inside and outside against the Flyers. Olivia Nelson-Ododa, the Huskies 6-foot-5 center, was a difficult matchup and scored 14 points, including 12 in the first half. The Huskies, fueled by a stretch of four straight makes in the first half, shot 52.6% (10 of 19) from 3-point range, including 7 of 13 in the first half.

Megan Walker left no doubt for the Huskies with three 3-pointers in the early minutes of the second half. She scored a game-high 23 points, made 4 of 6 3-pointers and grabbed 12 rebounds. UConn’s largest lead was 40.

Jayla Scaife led Dayton with 12 points, and Jenna Giancone added 11.

UConn took control over the last 3:48 of the first quarter with an 18-4 run, which began with a missed shot that Nelson-Ododa tipped in. Then 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions and the Huskies were off and running.

Meanwhile, Dayton was ice cold until Giacone, Scaife and Giacone again closed the half with consecutive 3-pointers to lead a 9-5 run to trail 41-22. UConn outshot UD 48.6% to 21.2% in the half. Scaife scored 10 points.

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