UConn Women lose to JuJu Watkins and USC in Hartford, 72-70

The UConn women suffer their second loss of the season, falling to No. 7 USC in a hard-fought showdown at the XL Center. Join us live as we break down what went wrong, the bright spots from Sarah Strong and Ashlynn Shade, and what this means for the Huskies moving forward. We’ll analyze the matchup, discuss key takeaways, and consider how UConn can bounce back. Don’t miss this in-depth reaction and conversation about one of the season’s biggest games!”

 

UConn Huskies faced a tough challenge in Hartford as they fell to USC, marking their second loss of the season to a top-10 opponent. Despite standout performances from Sarah Strong and Paige Bueckers, the Huskies struggled to contain JuJu Watkins and the Trojans’ efficient shooting. UConn’s resilience and depth were tested as they navigated a game with notable foul disparities and a cold night from beyond the arc. Here’s a breakdown of what went right, what didn’t, and the individual contributions from both teams.

 

UConn Huskies Contributions:

Starters:

• Sarah Strong (#21): 22 points, 13 rebounds (2 offensive), 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block. A dominant presence on the boards and a key playmaker, though her 1-6 performance from three-point range showed room for improvement.

• Ice Brady (#25): Scoreless with 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Struggled to find rhythm in limited opportunities.

• Ashlynn Shade (#12): 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals. Provided sparks defensively but struggled with consistency on offense.

• Kaitlyn Chen (#20): 5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists. Contributed minimally but did hit a three-pointer early.

• Paige Bueckers (#5): 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists. A scoring leader but struggled with efficiency, shooting 2-8 from beyond the arc.

 

Bench:

• Jana El Alfy (#8): 2 points, 3 rebounds. Solid rebounding presence in limited minutes.

• Morgan Cheli (#23): 5 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist. Provided energy but struggled defensively.

• KK Arnold (#2): 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists. Contributed with efficient shooting and steady ball-handling.

• Azzi Fudd (#35): Scoreless in limited action, missing all four of her shot attempts.

 

Team Stats:

• Field Goals: 27-62 (43.5%)

• Three-Point Shooting: 6-23 (26.1%)

• Free Throws: 10-17 (58.8%)

• Total Rebounds: 32 (8 offensive)

• Assists: 18

• Turnovers: 13

 

 

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