Hartford — If you had to pick a moment that everyone remembers about UConn's Christyn Williams, her 28 points in a regular-season victory last season over then-defending national champion Notre Dame is it.

But while that was certainly memorable, and even more unforgettable for her as a freshman, UConn coach Geno Auriemma thought Thursday night was better.

"I thought this was one of the best games she's played ... not just this year ... at Connecticut. I thought she was terrific," Auriemma said.

Williams played all 40 minutes, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals as top-ranked UConn — which began this decade the same as it began the last one, with exalted status as the No. 1 team in the nation — held off Wichita State 83-55 in an American Athletic Conference game which precedes an upcoming Huskies' schedule full of heavyweights.

Wichita State, playing its league opener, narrowed the score to 63-53 with a 14-2 run to start the fourth quarter, combined with UConn leading scoring Megan Walker heading to the bench with 6 minutes, 20 seconds to play after fouling out.

Williams had nine points to that juncture.

She scored seven straight in a span of 1:21 to put the game, played before 7,550 at the XL Center, back in UConn's hands at 70-55, then capped the Huskies' scoring with a 3-pointer to give her 19.

Williams shot 1-for-7 in the first half, 6-for-13 overall, making her 5-for-6 when her team needed her the most. UConn closed with a 20-2 run.

"I figured I probably need to become aggressive," Williams said of Walker fouling out. "My layups started to fall, so that was great. ... I feel like it's been the focus for me individually this entire season. Offensively, I've been struggling a little bit, so I've been focusing on other things.

"People say the Notre Dame game was my best game. I don't agree. I feel it's important to be great overall."

Crystal Dangerfield had 22 points (4 3-pointers), seven rebounds and five assists for UConn (11-0, 2-0), Walker finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 13 points, nine rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Mariah McCully had 16 points for Wichita State (8-6, 0-1).

UConn was coming off a 97-53 victory over Oklahoma on Dec. 22 in the Hall of Fame Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena, coached by associate head coach Chris Dailey, filling in while Auriemma recovered from minor surgery.

On Thursday, Wichita State led 8-0 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Carla Bremaud and Shyia Smith and held the Huskies without a field goal until Walker's 3-pointer from the right corner with 5:12 to play in the first quarter.

But with the Shockers leading 12-6 at the first TV timeout, UConn went on a 16-0 run to close the quarter and a 22-0 streak overall. The Huskies tied the game at 12 on an offensive rebound by Williams, which she shoveled to Anna Makurat for a layup and Dangerfield unleashed a 3-pointer for the 15-12 lead at the 2:07 mark.

Walker finished the quarter with 13 points and UConn up 22-12.

Dangerfield opened the second quarter with another 3-pointer and Nelson-Ododa added a free throw and a layup to lengthen the Huskies' lead to 28-12 before Wichita broke its scoreless streak on a fast break by Seraphine Bastin.

UConn led 45-26 at halftime, with 19 points from Dangerfield.

"I feel good," said Auriemma, asked about the status of his health. "I think the pain was 'I can't believe I've got to watch this the next 40 minutes.' ... I'm allowed to fly. I'm good."

Now UConn begins another decade with a schedule which promises defending national champion Baylor (Jan. 9) and a five-games-in-12-days span which begins with all-time rival Tennessee, ends with No. 2 Oregon and includes with an exhibition date against the U.S. National Team.

But Dangerfield, UConn's senior point guard, said with this team — down a pair of All-Americans who graduated from last year's squad which earned a trip to its record 12th straight Final Four — there is no talk of the big picture.

It's not just one game at a time now ...

"One practice at a time," she said. "This is a different team, the most different team I've been on in my four years here. Tomorrow we have practice."

v.fulkerson@theday.com