Villanova upsets UConn
Huskies’ 169-game conference winning streak comes to halt
HARTFORD — UConn’s streak of 169 straight wins over conference opponents is over.
Villanova broke the No. 8-ranked Huskies’ nine-year undefeated streak over conference opponents Wednesday night, upsetting UConn 72-69. UConn’s streak spanned its time in both American Athletic and the Big East conferences.
While UConn’s offense struggled to get shots to fall all night, it was a last-minute loss of senior forward Oliva Nelson-Ododa that ultimately caused its defense to collapse as Villanova ourebounded UConn 37-20.
Freshman Azzi Fudd led UConn with a career-high 29 points, followed by senior Christyn Williams (24) as the only two Huskies in double-figures.
Here are Takeaways from UConn’s loss to Villanova:
OH NO ONO
In what appeared to be a last-minute decision, Evina Westbrook started in place of Olivia Nelson-Ododa for UConn’s eighth different starting lineup this season. SNY reported during its broadcast that NelsonOdoda was not feeling well. The senior sat on the bench the whole first half of Wednesday’s game dressed in her uniform and did not participate in shoot around at halftime.
It was the first game Nelson-Ododa has missed in her three and half years at UConn. It was also the Huskies’ first game without her in the starting lineup since Feb. 22, 2020.
A DELFATED DEFENSE
Without the 6-foot-5 Nelson-Ododa, the Huskies’ defense fell flat Wednesday. Villanova (16-6, 10-3) opened the game on a 12-2 run and led by as much as 15 in the first quarter. While UConn (15-5, 9-1) got as close as five to the Wildcats, the Huskies couldn’t put together any defensive stops without Nelson-Odo
da’s presence in the paint.
Villanova ended the first two quarters with 12 defensive boards compared to UConn’s five. It didn’t help that Aaliyah Edwards was called for three personal fouls before halftime.
At the intermission, Villanova had outrebounded UConn 18-7 and shot 58.1 percent from the floor. The Wildcats’ 41 points were the most UConn has allowed an opponent in a first half this season.
The Huskies looked just as flat out of the break and made just two field goals in the opening seven minutes of the third quarter. Villanova used three straight 3-pointers to lead by as much 19 and took advantage of UConn’s lack of size in the paint, upping their edge on the boards 26-10.
UConn was able to limit the Wildcats to just three points to start the fourth.
WILLIAMS, FUDD PACE HUSKIES
After not scoring in the first half of UConn’s game against Tennessee on Sunday, Williams led the Huskies through the first 20 minutes Wednesday. Halfway through the second, Williams had half of UConn’s total 26 points.
The senior finished with a season-high four 3-pointers (shooting 4 of 5 from the outside).
Fudd was UConn’s biggest spark in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of her 27 points in the final 10 minutes to get UConn as close as five in the final 30 seconds.
UP NEXT: The No. 8ranked Huskies will host DePaul on Friday night at Gampel Pavilion at 7 p.m.