UConn Women Dominate USC 79-51 in Impressive Road Victory

The UConn women’s basketball team, sitting at No. 1 in the nation, rolled past No. 16 USC with a commanding 79-51 win at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. That kind of statement game just reinforces how deep and versatile this Huskies roster really is.

We saw key moments from both seasoned players and newcomers, and honestly, their defense just never let up.

UConn’s Dominant Performance Against USC

Freshman forward Blanca Quinonez checked in during the first quarter with the game still tight—eight lead changes, UConn barely up by one. Quinonez wasted no time, rattling off six straight points and swiping two steals, and suddenly UConn led 18-9.

From there, the Huskies set the tone. Quinonez wrapped up her night with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a team-high four steals. That’s her most complete game against a ranked team so far, and you could feel her energy shift the whole vibe.

Key Players and Their Contributions

Azzi Fudd really drove the win, dropping a game-high 17 points and handing out four assists. She nailed three of UConn’s seven threes and made life tough for USC’s Jazzy Davidson, who finished with just 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting.

Fudd talked about how the team’s defense made the difference, crediting the coaches for a scouting report that helped keep Davidson in check.

Other standouts:

• Ashlynn Shade: The junior guard poured in a season-best 15 points, shooting 54.4% from the floor and knocking down three threes.
• Sarah Strong: The star forward chipped in 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and filled up the stat sheet with three assists, three blocks, and three steals.
• Serah Williams: The senior center got UConn started with six early points, helping build that first cushion.

Defensive Mastery and Offensive Balance

UConn’s defense really set the tone. The Huskies held USC to just 30.2% shooting and only 4-for-19 from deep.

They forced 20 turnovers, turning those into 26 points. On offense, four players hit double digits, so it wasn’t just a one-woman show.

First-Quarter Surge

Early on, both teams traded buckets. Then UConn just took off—Quinonez’s steals sparked a 10-0 run, and while she was on the floor, USC couldn’t buy a basket.

Fudd splashed a three to push the run to 15 straight points. USC went nearly seven minutes without a field goal, and you could see them get rattled.

Maintaining Momentum

UConn’s had trouble keeping their foot on the gas in some past games, but not this time. Up by 22 at halftime, they kept pushing in the third quarter.

USC tried to answer with 22 points in the third, but UConn answered every time, dropping a game-high 30 in the period. Shade scored eight in that stretch, and both Fudd and Strong tacked on seven each.

Team Effort and Strategic Execution

Head coach Geno Auriemma liked what he saw. He pointed out that keeping the pace high and pushing the tempo made a huge difference.

He also mentioned how the team stayed connected on defense and stuck to the plan. You could see that unity all night.

Deep Bench Contribution

As the game wore on, UConn went deep into the bench. Twelve of the 13 available players got minutes, and the energy never dropped.

Sophomore Kayleigh Heckel, who transferred from USC, scored her first points against her old team on a slick layup. That got the loudest reaction from the UConn bench all night—sometimes it’s the little moments that stick with you.

Looking Ahead

UConn’s win over USC made it their fourth victory this season against a top-25 team. They’re now 10-0 for the first time since 2020-21.

That kind of start really hints at how much potential this squad has. Honestly, it feels like they’re ready to take on anyone.