DURHAM – With irrepressible efficiency and defensive aplomb, the No. 3 Connecticut women’s basketball team delivered another disappointing loss to Duke on Monday night– its fifth consecutive over the Blue Devils. 

The Huskies (20-2, 8-1 Big East), as they had twice last year, defeated the No. 5 Devils (17-3, 8-0 ACC) by executing basketball fundamentals at the highest level and chipping away for a 61-45 victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium. 

The Devils, playing before a raucous crowd and nationally televised audience, put up a fight, yet it was little they could do as Geno Auriemma’s bunch kept working for rebounds, kept closing out on shooters and kept converting opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Devils got away from what has worked offensively this season as the team’s averaged 76.9 points per game. They finished with just eight assists and failed to move the ball with the fluidity that has marked previous victories.

Rodney Purvis, one of the top high school basketball players in the country, plans to announce his college decision on Friday.

RALEIGH – Upper Room Christian Academy senior Rodney Purvis has re-opened his recruiting process and announced a revised list of schools he’s considering for the 20012-13 season.

Purvis, a 6-foot-4 senior guard who pulled his verbal commitment from Louisville in May, said he’s now, in no order, considering offers from: Connecticut, Memphis, Missouri, N.C. Central, N.C. State, Ohio State, Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia.

Purvis and his mother, Shanda McNair, said they have no time frame on a decision, but may wait to after they take five official visits, interact with coaching staffs during home visits and thoroughly evaluate each program. 

“Instead of rushing into another decision,” Purvis said. “I get to sit down and talk with the coaches more. Gain relationship with every coach on the staff. Just get a good feel for the campuses ... and see what fits my style of play the best.”

CHAPEL HILL – The precision of the Connecticut women's basketball team overwhelmed North Carolina on several occasions Monday night and left the Tar Heels reeling in an 83-57 defeat at Carmichael Arena.

There was little the No. 11 Heels could do but watch and chase as the No. 2 Huskies made baskets at an amazing clip and from all areas of the court to start both halves. 

It was a machine-like and textbook start to the second half for the Huskies. A jumper by senior Maya Moore. A jumper in the lane by freshman Stefanie Dolson. A coast-to-coast drive by junior Tiffany Hayes. Another jumper from the baseline by Moore. Two free throws by Hayes.

And just like that a 12-0 run and a 24-point lead with 16 minutes, 36 seconds remaining. Game over.

TED RICHARDSON - trichardson@newsobserver.com

DURHAM - Connecticut made it look easy, even though the
defending national champions were swarmed, swatted and stressed by a
defensively active Duke women's basketball team.

It didn't matter. The top-ranked Huskies were too much, in the end
overwhelming the No. 6 Blue Devils with cool-headed, proficient
basketball, collecting a 81-48 victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

See a photo gallery of UNC's 12-10 win over Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.

Staff photo by Robert Willett

DETROIT (AP) — Raymar Morgan grinned and lifted his right arm high in the air, saluting a stadium filled with Michigan State fans with a little wave.

The Spartans promised their downtrodden state something good, and boy, did they deliver.

CHAPEL HILL — In the showdown between the nation’s top two NCAA Division I women’s basketball team on Monday, top-ranked Connecticut proved too much for No. 2 North Carolina, outrunning, overpowering and outmanuvering the Heels on the way to a 88-58 victory at the Smith Center.

The Huskies, now unbeaten in 18 games this season, snapped the Tar Heels’ 17-game winning streak, sending some in the crowd to their cars early and disappointing others who had to tried to prop up their previously undefeated team against an overwhelming foe.

By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Sports Writer
Connecticut moved back to being an unanimous choice as the No. 1 team, and showed there may be even more distance between itself and the rest of women's college basketball.

The Huskies, who were one vote shy of being unanimous last week, held all 45 first place votes in The Associated Press poll on Monday. UConn also received all the first-place ballots in the first poll of the regular season.

North Carolina remained No. 2 after barely hanging on to beat Oregon State in the Junkanoo Jam.

"I don't think North Carolina and UConn are really close," said Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale, who has now lost to both teams this season after Sunday's 106-78 thrashing in Connecticut. "Maybe North Carolina had a bad night and UConn had a good night, but there's a chasm between them."