OMAHA, Neb. — For most of the UConn women’s basketball team’s game against Creighton on Sunday, it didn’t feel like the top-ranked Huskies were dominating.
The team had more turnovers in the first half than it had in the entirety of Wednesday’s win over St. John’s, and it finished with 21 to tie the most it has given up this season. The committed 18 fouls It struggled to find a flow on either end of the court early, and its elite transition game was less effective than usual with just nine points on fast breaks.
But it’s a testament to just how high team has set the bar this season that a 95-54 victory could be considered underwhelming. The win, which improved UConn to 17-0 on the season and 8-0 in Big East play, was the team’s second-largest margin of victory over Creighton in series history. It also held the Bluejays to a season-worst 3-for-25 from 3-point range.
UConn was powered by the fifth double-double of the season from star forward Sarah Strong, who finished with 18 points shooting 70% from the field and 13 rebounds plus six assists and five steals. Three other players scored in double digits, led by 15 points plus four rebounds and three steals from freshman Blanca Quinonez. Azzi Fudd added 14 points on 50% shooting, and Ashlynn Shade tied a season high with four made 3-pointers for 12 points.
Though it never trailed in the opening quarter, UConn came out flat against the Bluejays. The Huskies were struggling to keep up with defensive rotations, and Creighton exploited the sluggishness with assists on each of its first four made field goals all of which came in the paint. UConn’s offensive ball movement was also as sloppy as it has been all season. The team gave up eight turnovers in the first quarter including four over a two and a half minute stretch that allowed the Bluejays to tie the score 10-10 after the first media timeout.
But the Huskies defense eventually began to click late in the quarter after Creighton tied the game when Auriemma went to one of his quickest lineups with Strong and Quinonez on the floor alongside both starting point guard KK Arnold and sophomore Kayleigh Heckel. Heckel was only on the court for a minute, but it was enough to shift the momentum and put UConn on a 6-0 run that the Bluejays never recovered from.
After its 4-for-6 start, Creighton shot just 1-for-9 through the end of the quarter and went the final two minutes without a field goal. Heckel hit an acrobatic layup at the buzzer to push the Huskies to a 21-14 lead.
Arnold set the tone for the second quarter with a steal-and-score in the opening seconds, and while UConn’s offense still hadn’t found its rhythm, the defensive effort neutralized any inefficiencies. The Huskies held the Bluejays scoreless for more than six minutes to begin the quarter and forced 11 turnovers during a 17-0 run that put the game out of reach. Creighton went just 2-for-10 from the field in the second, and despite leading the Big East in 3-pointers made, it was 0-for-12 from the perimeter.
While Creighton’s shooters were smothered, UConn’s began to heat up late in the quarter. Fudd began the run sinking her second shot from deep of the game. Heckel then drained a pair of 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, marking her first game with multiple makes from beyond the arc since Nov. 30 against Xavier, and Shade capped the run with her second 3-pointer of the day. By halftime, the Huskies were ahead by 33 with both Fudd and Strong scoring in double digits.
Strong secured her double-double early in the third quarter, and the Huskies went to their bench for much of the second half. The Huskies reserves combined for 38 points, and redshirt senior Caroline Ducharme logged a season-best six points on 3-for-3 shooting plus four rebounds, and all 11 UConn players who saw the court scored. Redshirt sophomore Ayanna Patterson made her return to the court after missing the last three games with a concussion, putting up two points at the free throw line.
