seminoles couldn't break "the streak"

The Florida State Seminoles are certainly glad to get out of New England.

First, the Seminoles were upset by Yale on the road on Saturday in New Haven, Conn. Then on Tuesday, they fell to Connecticut 93-62, extending the Huskies' winning streak to a record 89 games. Connecticut has the longest winning streak in college basketball -- men or women. It surpassed the 88-game winning streak set by the UCLA men's team in the early 1970s.

"It is unbelievable," Florida State coach Sue Semrau said in the Hartford Courant on Wednesday. "We tripped up at Yale and (Connecticut coach) Geno (Auriemma) said to me earlier today that that type of stuff happens all of the time, and it really does. When you put the streak in that type of perspective upsets happen all of the times and for them to not be upset during the streak is just amazing. It really is mind boggling."

Now, Florida State (9-3) is trying to snap a two-game losing streak. The Seminoles' next game will be on Dec. 28 against in-state rival Florida at Florida State.

Going into the New England trip, the Seminoles allowed an average of 54 points per game in 10 games. After the two games against Yale and UConn, Florida State gave up an average of 92 points per game, 91 against Yale and 93 against the Huskies. The Seminoles also lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

The loss to Yale dropped Florida State to No. 22 in the polls. Yale snapped a seven-game losing streak in the win over the Seminoles.

The Bulldogs, who took a 2-6 record into the contest, led 55-42 at halftime and 64-54 at one point of the second half.

Three days later, the Seminoles trailed 54-27 to UConn and never recovered. Maya Moore scored 41 points to help the top-ranked Huskies to 11-0.

Alexa Deluzio was the only Florida State player to score in double figures in both games against Yale and UConn. She scored 17 against Yale and 16 against UConn.

After leading the Seminoles with 19 points in Saturday's game against Yale, senior Courtney Ward finished with eight against UConn. Junior Cierra Brevard was Florida State's high scorer with 19 points in Tuesday's game with the Huskies.

Florida State also lost to UConn for the fourth time in the last three seasons. A year ago, the Seminoles lost to the Huskies 90-50 in the Elite Eight at Dayton, Ohio. UConn went on to win its second straight national championship.

Florida State's next visit to New England will be on Jan. 27, when the Seminoles play at Boston College in an ACC contest.

Big jump: With the 91-71 win over Stanford last week, DePaul prevented Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer from getting her 800th coaching victory.

The win over helped the Blue Demons make the biggest jump among the top 25 teams in this week's polls. DePaul jumped six spots to No. 16.

The Blue Demons will take a 13-2 record into Christmas break. Arizona State snapped DePaul's 10-game winning streak with a 79-66 win on Tuesday.

Welcome aboard, Arkansas: After beating Oral Roberts and upsetting Oklahoma last week, the Arkansas Razorbacks enter this week's polls at No. 25. Arkansas is one of three SEC teams (the others are Tennessee and Kentucky) in this week's polls.

Arkansas improved to 11-0 with a 67-57 win over No. 15 Oklahoma on Sunday at home. The Razorbacks' next game will be against Furman on Dec. 28.