UConn keeps rolling along

Moore, Huskies brush off Texas

UConn's Renee Montgomery plows into Texas's Earnesia Williams during the first half, earning a foul. (Jessica Hill/Associated Press)

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Texas guard never saw Maya Moore coming.

Erneisha Bailey dribbled toward the basket, poised for a layup, until the Connecticut freshman sprinted down the court to swat the ball out of bounds, her momentum sending her over a partition behind the basket.

Ten minutes into UConn's matchup against Texas, and Moore had made all the difference. She had 14 points by then, and the block she made on Bailey was her third in the span. UConn led, 31-16, at that point and went on to capture an 89-55 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last night at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Moore ended the game with 24 points and 12 rebounds, becoming the first UConn freshman since Diana Taurasi in 2001 to score that many points in an NCAA Tournament game.

"I don't know how to explain it," said UConn coach Geno Auriemma, whose top-seeded team advances to play Old Dominion in the Sweet 16. "We actually get upset when she doesn't make a shot - that's how confident we are. We let her hear about it when she misses.

"When she moves around, she's like a cat. When she gets the ball in good position, it's like she's in the zone."

For 2:30 of the first half, that position for Moore was the left wing as she hit four 3-pointers from the spot.

"I don't exactly remember that," said Moore. "When that happens, I'm in the zone, just playing.

"I think that's when I'm at my best, when I'm not really thinking so much and playing and taking the shot when I'm open."

UConn (34-1) drained 5 of 10 3-point attempts in the first half as part of its 67 percent shooting from the field. The Huskies hit 60 percent for the game.

The day before the game, Longhorn coach Gail Goestenkors said Moore provided the Huskies with "a dimension they haven't had in quite some time."

The only player to be selected Big East Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year for the same season, Moore (17.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) managed more than a few plays last night that could have added to a highlight reel.

"She never gives up on a play," UConn junior guard Renee Montgomery said. "She's very talented, but she also works really hard. Anything that she does doesn't surprise me because she works really hard in practice."

When Moore wasn't making the play, her teammates weren't far behind. Guards Ketia Swanier and Renee Montgomery used speed to zip in and out of the Texas defense. Forward Brittany Hunter fought for baskets and ended up with 10 points. Montgomery added 17 points and Tina Charles chipped in 15.

Once UConn carried a 48-30 lead into halftime, Goestenkors attempted to motivate her players by reminding them of a 16-point deficit they overcame against Baylor in the Big 12 tournament. But there wasn't a comeback waiting.

The Longhorns' leading scorers, Brittainey Raven (15.5 ppg) and Ashley Lindsey (11.1), were held to 4 and 6 points, respectively.

The Huskies' effort was similar to what they submitted in the first round of the tournament when they defeated Cornell, 89-47. In that game, Moore led the team with 17 points as one of four Huskies in double figures.

Fifth-seeded Old Dominion (31-4), which defeated Virginia, 88-85, in overtime last night, met up with UConn in November in the Paradise Jam, when the Huskies walked away with an 86-43 victory.

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com