Mar 22, 2016 3 min read

STORRS, Conn. – UConn’s “Big Three” say they could not have scripted a better final home game for each other.

Breanna Stewart scored 21 points and Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson each added 20 in their Gampel Pavilion finale, leading UConn to a 97-51 victory over Duquesne late Monday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Stewart also grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked five shots. Tuck added nine rebounds and both she and Jefferson had seven assists as the Huskies (34-0) moved into the regional semifinals for the 23rd consecutive year.

“Today was just a magnificent performance by the three of them,” said coach Geno Auriemma. “It was really something to see, just the way they feed off each other, the way they instill confidence in their teammates.”

Deva’Nyar Workman scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half and April Robinson added 16 points for Duquesne (28-6), which was playing in its first NCAA Tournament.

“I’m actually glad we went out to the No. 1 team in the country than to anybody else,” said Workman. “This is the best way to go out, for me.”

Duquesne coach Dan Burt, a Washington native and Trinity High School graduate, wanted his team to weather the first five minutes, and they trailed just 13-9 midway through the first quarter, then took a 14-13 lead to finish off an 8-0 run.

But they trailed 20-14 after the first quarter.

The Huskies held Duquesne to just eight baskets on 34 attempts in the first half (24 percent) and led 42-21 after 20 minutes.

Burt paraphrased Mike Tyson, saying everyone has a plan against UConn until they get punched in the face.

“That second quarter, we got punched in the face,” he said. “But, instead of losing what the plan was, I think we still battled.”

The Dukes shot just 29 percent for the game.

The Huskies extended their winning streak to 71 games, making it the second longest in team and Division I women’s history. They own the top three streaks on that list and surpassed the 70-game streak they set between November 2001 and November 2003.

UConn led just 20-17 early in the second quarter before going on a 19-2 run grab control of the game.

UConn took the momentum early in the second quarter when Stewart had three blocks on a single possession, forcing one of two consecutive shot-clock violations.

The Huskies dominated the game down low, outrebounding Duquesne 51-31 and outscoring them 50-18 in the paint.

Duquesne seniors Robinson, Workman and Emilie Gronas finish their careers with 95 wins, the most in program history.