Box Score Hartford, Conn. (Dec. 23, 2006) ???C Oakland???s women???s basketball team fell to sixth ranked Connecticut by an 85-53 margin at the Hartford Civic Center this afternoon. Senior Nicole Piggott (Pewamo, Mich.) led all scorers with 14 points, while sophomore Jessica Pike (Clawson, Mich.) compiled 12 points and six rebounds. Oakland got on the board first as senior Bonnie Baker (Allen Park, Mich.) converted a free throw at 19:10. However, the Huskies scored 11 of the next 15 points to go ahead 11-5 at 16:52. Shortly thereafter junior Rachel Bryer (St. Clair, Mich.) hit a jumper to bring OU within six 13-7 at 16:19. Connecticut began to pull away, putting together a 12-0 run. Brittany Hunter came off the bench and scored five straight points to ignite the run; she also hit the last field goal of the clip at 13:11. Junior Charlese Greer (Pontiac, Mich.) put an end to the Huskies??? run, driving to the net for a lauyp for the 25-9 score with 12:39 remaining in the first. The Golden Grizzlies outscored the Huskies 10-8 over the next six minutes with Pike, Piggott, freshman Melissa Jeltema (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and sophomore Riikka Terava (Helsinki, Finland) all sending in layups and a jumper from Jeltema at the 6:00 minute mark to bring OU within 14 at 33-19. The Huskies recorded six straight points to go up 39-19 before Pike, Piggott and sophomore April Kidd (Grand Rapids, Mich.) accounted for seven of the next nine points to draw within 15 at 41-26 with 1:27 to go. UConn???s Hunter scored the last field goal of the half with 58 seconds left on the clock for the 43-26 advantage at intermission. UConn opened the second half with a 9-0 run, which Piggott put a halt to with a jumper at 16:31. Oakland and Connecticut then traded baskets for three consecutive trips up the floor, as Piggott nailed a jumper and she and Greer each drove to the basket for layups to keep the Golden Grizzlies within 24 at 56-32 with 14:53 left on the clock. Oakland stayed within 26 points over the next few minutes as Kidd and Jeltema each hit jumpers for the Golden Grizzlies, while Renee Montgomery and Kalana Greene made field goals and Charde Houston sank two free throws for Connecticut. The Huskies went on to score the next seven points to go ahead 69-36 with 11 minutes remaining. Piggott pulled the Golden Grizzlies within 29 with back-to-back field goals at 9:50 for the 69-40 margin. The Huskies scored four of the next five points to go ahead by 32 once again, but Oakland answered with seven of the next nine as Kidd and Pike each nailed field goals and Pike drained a three for the 75-48 score at 5:59. After field goals by UConn???s Ketia Swanier and Tahirah Williams, Terava hit a three pointer with 3:10 left on the clock. Connecticut scored the next six points and junior Liz Sowers (Hesston, Kan.) potted the last field goal of the game for the 85-53 final. Oakland takes a two-week break for the holidays before returning to action January 6, hosting former Mid-Con rival Chicago State at 3:30 p.m. at the O???Rena.