HARTFORD, Connecticut. (AP) – Azzi Fudd scored 18 of her 23 points in the initial half, helping No. 7 UConn achieve an 81-27 victory against Xavier on Wednesday evening.
Sarah Strong contributed 15 points—entirely in the first half—along with seven rebounds and five steals for UConn (14-2, 5-0 Big East). UConn competed without their top scorer Paige Bueckers. Bueckers sustained a knee injury in the victory against Villanova on Sunday. There is no schedule for her comeback, but UConn coach Geno Auriemma believed that Bueckers might be able to return next week.
Allie Ziebell scored 15 of her 17 points during the second half for the Huskies.
Irune Orio topped Xavier (5-10, 0-4) with 10 points.
The Musketeers, who managed to get their 10th point with just 26 seconds remaining in the first half, suffered their 45th consecutive loss in Big East play. At that moment, Xavier was behind 43-10.
Xavier: The Musketeers drop to 0-9 versus UConn. In the eight Big East games against UConn, the Musketeers have fallen by a margin of at least 36 points on seven occasions.
UConn: Fudd achieved her highest point total of the season in the initial game after Bueckers’ absence. Fudd’s prior season-best was 18 points in victories against ranked teams Ole Miss and Louisville.
UConn was firmly in control with a nine-point advantage when Strong scored eight points and Fudd added five in a 15-0 surge, extending the Huskies’ lead to 30-6.
UConn scored 36 points from turnovers, while Xavier only managed 4, in the first three quarters. In the first half, the Huskies accumulated more steals than Xavier scored points.
The Musketeers will host St. John’s at home on Saturday. UConn faces Georgetown on Saturday.
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