PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Even though Connecticut has a potent offense, the Huskies used their defense to stay unbeaten.

The No. 1 Huskies held Providence to 25.5 percent shooting and scored 32 points off 26 turnovers en route to a 75-39 win last night.

"I think the biggest thing about the constant success of our team is it comes down to our defense," Maya Moore said. "Your shot is one of those things that can leave you some times and you might have trouble shooting. But defense is something you can control and keep constant.

"As you saw in the second half, especially, our defense was really great."

The Huskies (26-0, 12-0 Big East), who led 39-18 at halftime, hit Providence (9-16, 3-9) with a 25-0 run to open the second half and built a lead as large as 40 points before the midway point.

Providence didn't score a second-half basket until 9:22 had expired when Chandler McCabe made a 3-point shot.

Moore led a quintet of Huskies in double figures with 16 points while Tiffany Hayes added 15.

McCabe led the Friars with eight points.

The Huskies opened the game with an 11-0 run and never trailed.

"I haven't seen them play a 1-3-1 (zone)," Providence coach Phil Seymore said. "They defended our guards where our ball control was a little weak so we had a hard time handing the basketball, especially in the beginning of the game. They got steals right away (Connecticut had 14 in the game) and that set the tone."

RANKED MEN

NO. 3 NORTH CAROLINA 89, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 80

Tyler Hansbrough scored 27 points, Danny Green added 19, and the host Tar Heels (24-2, 10-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) used a 14-0 run to open a 53-38 lead with 16 minutes left to beat the Wolfpack (14-10, 4-7 ACC) for their 10th straight victory.

NO. 5 MEMPHIS 90, SMU 47

Shawn Taggart scored 19 points and Doneal Mack added 15 as the host Tigers (23-3, 11-0 Conference USA) romped past the Mustangs (7-17, 1-10) for their 17th straight victory, while extending their winning streak in the conference to 53 games.

NO. 7 LOUISVILLE 94, PROVIDENCE 76

Terrence Williams had 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and the host Cardinals (20-5, 11-2 Big East) used a 22-3 run to take a 72-56 lead midway through the second half to beat the Friars (16-10, 8-6). Louisville moved into a tie for second place in the conference with No. 4 Pittsburgh and No. 10 Marquette behind No. 1 Connecticut.

NO. 8 WAKE FOREST 87, GEORGIA TECH 69

James Johnson had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Jeff Teague added 15 points, and the host Demon Deacons (20-4, 7-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) saw their 23-point lead cut to 61-56 with 13:28 left before pulling away to beat the Yellow Jackets (10-15, 1-11).

WAC

IDAHO 56, BOISE STATE 54

Marvin Jefferson's putback with 4.3 seconds lifted the Vandals (12-13, 6-6 Western Athletic Conference) over the host Broncos (17-8, 7-5). The Vandals trailed 34-26 at halftime and came back with a 15-5 run in the final nine minutes to beat the Broncos for the second time this season.