Brooklyn, NY — Sarah Strong scored 21 points and Azzi Fudd added 18 as No. 2 UConn cruised to an 85-52 victory over No. 22 Louisville on Saturday night in the Women’s Champions Classic.
The Huskies (8-0) jumped out to an early lead and maintained control throughout the contest. They kept their feet on the gas pedal, and they eventually let up on it in the third with multiple players getting playing time.
Louisville (5-4) was down by 18 points after the first quarter and briefly cut the deficit to 12 early in the second. However, Strong, the standout freshman, led UConn’s charge with her scoring inside and beyond the arc, restoring the Huskies’ commanding lead.
By halftime, UConn was ahead 49-24, despite All-American Paige Bueckers only managing three points in the first half. Bueckers missed all six of her field goal attempts but found her rhythm in the third quarter, scoring her first basket shortly after the break. She finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, well below her usual average of 20.4 points per game.
In the earlier game of the doubleheader at Barclays Center, Tennessee defeated No. 17 Iowa 78-68.
Key Takeaways
- UConn: This victory marked the start of a challenging stretch for the Huskies, who will face four ranked teams in their next five games, including No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 20 Iowa State, and No. 6 USC later this month.
- Louisville: The Cardinals’ four losses this season have all come against ranked opponents, including defeats to UCLA, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
Key Moment
After a tight 8-5 score early, UConn erupted for a 20-5 run to close out the first quarter, putting them in control of the game. Ashlynn Shade played a crucial role during the surge, contributing seven points.
Key Stat
UConn dominated on the boards, outrebounding Louisville 52-28.
Next Up
Louisville will return home to host Grambling State on Thursday, while UConn heads to No. 10 Notre Dame for a matchup on the same day.
