UConn rolls to win as Fudd returns

ELMONT, N.Y. — UConn women’s basketball guard Azzi Fudd missed her first shot.

She missed another from the inside less than 40 seconds later.

But it wasn’t long before she found her groove from her signature spot.

With about a minute left in the first quarter Wednesday night, Fudd caught a pass from Dorka Juhász on the right side of the arc. She immediately jumped up and released the ball. It swished through the net. Her first bucket in her first game back in over five weeks was, of course, a 3-pointer.

The return of UConn’s star sophomore was one of a handful of things to celebrate in the No. 4 Huskies’ 82-52 win over St. John’s at UBS Arena.

Head coach Geno Auriemma returned to the sideline to lead UConn (14-2, 7-0 Big East) after missing the past two games and spending a week away from the program to focus on his own health. While Auriemma coached the team throughout the game, associate head coach Chris Dailey conducted in-game and postgame media interviews.

The Huskies had eight available players after having to postpone Sunday’s game against DePaul due to not having enough healthy bodies.

Juhász, who joined the program as a transfer in 2021 from Ohio State, surpassed the 1,000 career rebound benchmark.

And Wednesday’s game was the first-ever women’s basketball game hosted inside UBS Arena, normally home to the NHL’s New York Islanders.

“Well, I think the fact that we hadn’t played since last Thursday, there was probably a little bit of energy and with a new building, coach (Auriemma) back. There were a lot of things. Knowing that we had Azzi back,” Dailey said. “I think there was a sense of excitement.”

UConn made quick work of the Red Storm. The Huskies scored 24 points off St. John’s 13 turnovers and won the rebound battle 31-23. UConn’s 10 turnovers were a season-low while its 62.3 field goal percentage was a season-high.

Lou Lopez Sénéchal led UConn with 20 points on 8 of 9 shooting. Juhász (10 rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal) followed with 18 points. Aaliyah Edwards and

Fudd came next with 15 each.

After sitting out the last eight games, Fudd played 20 minutes, shot 6 of 11 and grabbed down three rebounds and one assist against St. John’s.

“She just finds her way back so quickly,” Juhász said. “So it’s not really very challenging for us ... just having her back is amazing and she’s always gonna be there. An offensive threat. A defensive threat. So hopefully, obviously, she just keeps getting better and better.”

Over the past couple of weeks, Fudd has been slowly building on her rehab progression after injuring her right knee on Dec. 4 at Notre Dame.