HARTFORD, Conn.

Geno Auriemma knows there has been a large gap in recent years between his program and others in women’s basketball. Don’t expect him to apologize for being so good for so long.

The Hall of Famer reached 900 victories faster than any other college coach, men’s or women’s, when No. 2 UConn routed Cincinnati 96-36 on Tuesday night. Auriemma needed just 1,034 games to reach the milestone, and is 100-6 since win No. 800.

He said it would be good for women’s basketball if it took him more games to get his next 100 wins and he would welcome more competition.

“It’s not like we’ve done something that can’t be done,” said Auriemma, who has been at UConn for 30 years. “That’s not my fault that it’s not getting done at other places.”

The victory ties him with former Texas coach Jody Conradt for fifth place on the all-time women’s list, 198 wins behind former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt.

Freshman Gabby Williams led six players in double figures for the Huskies (21-1, 11-0 American Athletic Conference) with a career-high 18 points. She also had 14 rebounds.

The Huskies showed some nerves early, falling behind 5-0. But UConn scored the next 15 points, all on 3-pointers They closed the first half on a 22-0 run to put the game away.

Auriemma’s winning percentage of 87.04 percent in the best in the history of the women’s game. He also holds a record nine NCAA titles, and has appeared in the Final Four 15 times.

“I don’t want to stop setting the bar, and it’s up to everybody else to try to get there,” the Hall of Fame coach said. “We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing and we’re not going to stop.”

Cincinnati coach Jamelle Elliott, who played for Auriemma and was an assistant at UConn, said she hopes she’s learned something along the way about “demanding and not accepting anything less than perfection.”

“He never coached me and he doesn’t coach any of his players like girls,” she said. “He coaches us like players.”