Upperclassmen lead charge over Louisville

STORRS — Redshirt junior Paige Bueckers had a career-high five blocks. Senior guard Nika Muhl dished out double-digit assists. And graduate student Aubrey Griffin had a season-high in points.

It was the most balanced and dominant game for UConn women’s basketball so far this season.

The No. 17 Huskies defeated No. 18 Louisville 8662 Saturday afternoon at the XL Center to begin its stretch of three games in five days before their holiday break begins next week.

The win showed UConn has finally figured out how to play, and win, following the loss of Azzi Fudd, Ayanna Patterson and Caroline Ducharme (for the time being) due to injuries. Saturday’s win also extends UConn’s win streak to three straight games for the first time season as the Huskies open Big East play on Monday hosting Butler (7 p.m. in Hartford).

Griffin led all players with 25 points (five rebounds, four steals) followed by 22 from Aaliyah Edwards (seven rebounds, three assists) and 20 from Bueckers (five rebounds, four assists). Mühl’s 10 assists marked the 13th time in her career that she’s reached double-digit assists.

All five UConn starters scored less than five minutes into Saturday’s game.

UConn (7-3) spaced out the floor until it found the right, and smart, shot instead of rushing for a risky play. The Huskies controlled the pace of the game and forced Louisville (10-2) to keep up — which they did as the first quarter ended with 55 total points (both teams shot about 70 percent from the floor in the first).

Bueckers was dominant from all over the floor. She finished the first 10 minutes with six points, three assists and two rebounds before getting up and swatting away two blocks in the second quarter’s first two minutes.

But it wasn’t just Bueckers that got UConn going.

Edwards was a force under the basket and fought her way through defenders every possession. The se

nior was just as aggressive on defense, popping out a loose ball at halfcourt while managing to stay upright to pass to KK Arnold for a layup despite getting her feet tangled below.

The Huskies used an 8-0 run a few minutes into the second quarter to lead by as much as nine while the Cardinals were scoreless for nearly three and a half minutes. Griffin was the first player to reach double figures, making her first five shots. UConn found success from nearly all seven players it played in the first half, ending the frame with 16 assists on 19 baskets (led by Mühl with 8 assists). At the break, UConn was 19 of 29 from the floor, including shooting 56% from deep.

However, UConn closed the half getting caught up in mistakes and misses. Louisville got as close as two to UConn and forced the Huskies to go over three minutes without a bucket. UConn led by four at halftime.

The Huskies’ struggles continued into the third. UConn had two turnovers in the first two minutes of the quarter.

A steal and score from Arnold followed by a layup from Edwards got UConn back up by nine but the Cardinals didn’t let up easily.

Back-to-back jumpers from Edwards (who made her first nine shots) and Bueckers got UConn back into its groove. Griffin followed with a layup of her own (thanks to Mühl’s 10th assist) to build another 8-0 run as Louisville called timeout with about three minutes left of the third.

Louisville couldn’t get a shot to drop and went over five minutes without a field goal.

UConn outscored the Cardinals 19-9 in the third to enter the fourth comfortably ahead by 14.