Hobbled Hunter helps Huskies

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut center Brittany Hunter’s surgically repaired right knee felt fine in warmups.

It looked good for most of Saturday’s first half, too, as Hunter matched a career high with 13 points and nine rebounds, helping No. 6 UConn beat Oakland (Mich.) 85-53.

But Hunter, who had major surgery in 2004 and has played with torn cartilage this season, pulled up lame with about a minute to go before intermission, and sat out the rest of the game with ice on that knee.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma said the team won’t know until next week whether she irritated the knee or did more damage. He has been leaving the decision about how much Hunter plays to her.

“It’s like a guy who drives a race car,” Auriemma said. “He knows when he should keep driving and he knows when he should pull over.”

UConn starting center Tina Charles also left the game with an injury, after scoring nine of the Huskies’ first 11 points. Charles, a 6-foot-4 freshman, hurt her right shoulder diving for a loose ball with UConn up 39-20 and 4 minutes to go in the half. She has had problems with that shoulder since high school and should be fine with some rest, Auriemma said.

Kalana Greene stepped into the void, scoring 14 points and pulling down 13 rebounds to lead UConn to its first 9-0 start in three seasons. It was the 5-10 sophomore’s first double-double, and capped off the best week of her career. She scored 21 Monday in a victory over Virginia, and 17 in Thursday’s win over Colorado State.

“I was aggressive, the ball kind of bounced my way and I just went out there and got rebounds,” Greene said. “It feels good. It’s a big confidence booster.”

Oakland (4-8) scored the game’s first point but never led again. Nicole Piggott led the Grizzlies with 14 points and Jessica Pike had 10.

UConn outrebounded Oakland 55-34, including 24 offensive rebounds.

“We just could not keep them off the boards,” said Oakland coach Beckie Francis. “We got out of this game how good a ranked team is – a national-championship level team – and we got out of it that we need to improve on our rebounding.”

The victory was No. 598 for Auriemma, who is in his 22nd season and on track to reach 600 wins faster than any coach in history.