UConn Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Tennessee with Fudd and Strong Leading
In a thrilling rivalry game, the UConn women’s basketball team put on a show against Tennessee. The No. 1 ranked Huskies, after a shaky first half, stormed ahead in the second to grab a sweeping 96-66 win over the No. 15 Lady Vols.
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong poured in a combined 53 points, powering UConn to their biggest victory ever in this storied matchup. Tennessee suffered their worst loss since 1984, while UConn kept their undefeated streak alive.
First Half Struggles and Resilience
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Halftime arrived with the score tied at 42-42, which no one really expected from the undefeated Huskies. UConn started strong, but Tennessee’s defense and hustle evened things up by the break.
The Lady Vols took advantage of UConn’s turnovers and some defensive slip-ups. Janiah Barker and Zee Spearman both chipped in key buckets for Tennessee in the opening half.
UConn’s Early Dominance
UConn came out firing, with Azzi Fudd dropping seven points in just 90 seconds, sparking an 8-0 run. But then things got messy—Tennessee cranked up the pressure, forced turnovers, and closed the gap fast.
Still, UConn managed to hold a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
Tennessee’s Comeback
Second quarter, Tennessee’s Talaysia Cooper took over. She blew past UConn defenders and led a 10-0 run, giving the Lady Vols their first lead.
UConn went cold for nearly four minutes until Kayleigh Heckel finally scored off a steal. Fudd hit a pull-up jumper right before halftime, tying things up and giving UConn some hope heading into the locker room.
Second Half Surge
After halftime, UConn looked like a different team. They went on a quick 10-0 run, breaking things open again.
Fudd and Strong took charge, scoring 10 of UConn’s first 15 points in the third quarter. Tennessee tried to keep up, but UConn’s offense just kept rolling.
Azzi Fudd’s Dominant Performance
Azzi Fudd was electric, finishing with 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting, and she nailed five threes. She also led the team with seven assists, seven rebounds, and four steals.
It was a huge bounce-back after her rough outing against Xavier.
Sarah Strong’s Consistency
Sophomore Sarah Strong kept up her impressive run, scoring 26 on 10-for-18 shooting. She came up just one rebound shy of a double-double.
Strong added four assists, two blocks, and a steal. Her versatility and steady play have meant so much for UConn this year.
Team Effort and Key Contributions
Fudd and Strong led the way, but this was a real team win. Five Huskies hit double figures—Serah Williams had 12, while Allie Ziebell and Ashlynn Shade each scored 10.
UConn shot a blistering 58.5% from the field and knocked down 11 of 22 threes.
Defensive Prowess
Defense really mattered here. UConn forced 20 turnovers and turned them into 36 points.
The Huskies’ knack for disrupting Tennessee’s offense and pouncing on mistakes stood out, especially after halftime.
Coaching and Strategy
Coach Geno Auriemma made some key halftime adjustments. He emphasized tighter defense and better communication, and the team responded.
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That second-half focus made all the difference.
Looking Ahead
With this win, UConn moves to 24-0. They’ve now avenged all three losses from last season, beating Notre Dame, Tennessee, and USC by wide margins.
Honestly, this group looks like the team to beat. Confidence is sky-high, and you can feel the momentum building.
Key Takeaways
- Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong powered UConn to victory, putting up a combined 53 points.
- UConn’s defense forced 20 turnovers and turned those into 36 points.
- The team shot 58.5% from the field. They also made half of their three-point attempts.
- Coach Geno Auriemma made some sharp halftime adjustments that changed the game’s momentum.
If you want more details on this wild game, check out the full article at the Hartford Courant.