Uncasville, Conn. – No. 4 UConn delivered a commanding 101-68 win over Iowa State in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Tuesday night. Sarah Strong led the Huskies with a career-high 29 points, while Paige Bueckers added 27 to propel UConn to victory.
Ashlynn Shade made a significant impact with 27 points of her own, setting a personal best, including seven three-pointers. She was instrumental in UConn’s early dominance, scoring 20 points in the first quarter alone, making all seven of her shots, with six coming from beyond the arc. The Huskies surged to a 36-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the Cyclones (9-4) never managed to cut the deficit to less than 14 for the remainder of the game.
UConn set a new school record with 20 three-pointers in the game, finishing an impressive 20-for-34 from long range. Audi Crooks led Iowa State with 22 points but couldn’t carry her team to a comeback.
In the first game of the doubleheader, No. 5 LSU defeated Seton Hall 91-64.
Key Takeaways
Iowa State: After falling out of the rankings this week following a strong start to the season, the Cyclones need to find more consistent scoring support for Crooks.
UConn: With Shade stepping up as an offensive weapon, UConn now has even more firepower alongside Bueckers and Strong, making them an even more dangerous team.
Key Stat
UConn’s hot shooting from beyond the arc was on full display. The Huskies made their first nine three-pointers before finally missing one with 1:33 left in the first quarter, finishing the game with a blistering 20-for-34 performance from deep.
Key Moment
Shade was the catalyst for UConn’s fast start, scoring the first 14 points for the Huskies. In the opening 4:30 of the game, UConn raced to a 14-6 lead, with Shade hitting her first five shots, including four three-pointers. One of her long-range attempts from the logo brought a smile to coach Geno Auriemma’s face.
Up Next
Iowa State will travel to Oklahoma State on Saturday to begin Big 12 play, while UConn will host No. 7 Southern California in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday night, a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight contest.
