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RICHMOND, Virginia (Ticker) -- Top-seeded Connecticut is back in the "Elite Eight" for the sixth time in seven years. Tamika Williams scored 15 of her 16 points in the first half when Connecticut opened a 15-point lead en route to a 102-80 victory over fifth-seeded Oklahoma in an East Region semifinal game. The Huskies (33-1) extended their winning streak to 14 games and will play third-seeded Louisiana State in the regional final on Monday. It marked the eighth time Connecticut has reached the century mark this season. "This season compared to last year, we are playing more calmly and that's the maturity of this team," Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said. Connecticut's streak of five straight trips to the "Elite Eight" came to an end last season when the Huskies suffered a stunning loss to Iowa State in the Mideast semifinals. There was no such threat of an upset today. Connecticut raced to a 24-9 lead in the first 6:42 and increased the advantage to 40-19 with 9:17 left in the half. "Usually at the beginning of the game we start pressing the ball trying to get the other team tired," Connecticut forward Svetlana Abrosimova said. "You're going to find out we have some pretty talented players on our team and we have two or three players every night that play." The Huskies shot close to 60 percent (22-of-37) in the first half when it opened a 47-32 lead and 57 percent (40-of-70) for the game. Asjha Jones also finished with 16 points for Connecticut. Williams and Jones combined to hit 15-of-19 shots. Abrosimova scored 15 points and Sue Bird added 14 for the Huskies. "I think that it goes without saying that we got beat by the best team in the country today," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said. "They are well-coached, they are deep, they are tough, they are strong, they can all score and they were really, really good today." Oklahoma (25-8) upset defending champion Purdue on Monday to earn its first "Sweet 16" berth. Big 12 Conference Player of the Year Phylesha Whaley led the Sooners with 24 points and LaNeishea Caufield added 22. "They have a great team and they play so well together," Whaley said. "I guess it can be frustrating, but we knew how they were going to come out. It's so hard to go at a team that is that good." Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales scored hit just 3-of-12 shots and finished with 11 points.
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