Los Angeles – No. 1 UConn used strong defense and interior scoring to dominate No. 16 USC, 79-51, on Saturday.
Azzi Fudd led four Huskies in double figures with 17 points, while Ashlynn Shade added 15 and Sarah Strong, 14. The visitors outscored their opponents while snapping their 20-game winning streak and maintaining their undefeated season record.
Serah Williams and reserve freshman Blanca Quinonez paced UConn to start the match, scoring 6 points apiece, as the entire team held the Trojans to single-digit scores in each of the first two periods.
Despite USC picking up their pace in the third quarter, the Huskies extended their lead to as much as 39 points over the halfway point. They dropped their shooting in the final frame, when UConn coach Geno Auriemma brought in several backups.
Kennedy Smith led the Trojans with 16 points, Londynn Jones scored 14 and Jazzy Davidson added 10.
Fudd had high praise for Quinonez’s performance.
“When someone like her comes off the bench and can bring that spark, it’s like the first group is playing well, and then she comes in, and it’s a whole different level,” Fudd said.
Smith said her team would work on a sustained effort for 40 minutes over the next week and a half.
“Whether we’re down or not, playing with your heart, playing hard from start to finish is something we have to take over and carry over,” Smith said. “We’re about to get into Big Ten play soon, and the games aren’t going to get any easier.”
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