Back at full strength
Fudd returns as UConn blows past Georgetown to open postseason
UNCASVILLE — UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma sat on the bench with his arms crossed and his legs stretched out on the court and his feet crossed over each other. Relaxed as any coach can be during the first game of the postseason.
For the first time in over a month, the Huskies had finished a game before the fourth quarter even started.
And even better than that, UConn had its full 10person roster available for the first time in five months (since Nov. 14). It was just the second game all season that the No. 9-ranked Huskies had all of their active players suited up and ready.
With star sophomore Azzi Fudd available for the first time since Jan. 15, the No. 1 seeded Huskies played their best game in over a month in a 69-39 rout of No. 9 seed Georgetown Saturday in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals. UConn advanced to Sunday’s semifinals after playing its first game out of the last 11 that wasn’t decided by single digits. Georgetown’s loss ended its season.
“We did what we wanted to do defensively. We got the ball out in the transition the way we wanted to. We found the right people. We made the right decisions,” Auriemma said. “And it helps when you have people that they have to guard and the ball’s gonna go in more times than not. So the final score really wasn’t really important. You know, you just want to get your feet, get your wind, and get your legs back and get ready for tomorrow.”
Unfortunately for UConn, its newfound depth didn’t last long.
Sophomore guard Caroline Ducharme sustained an apparent head injury at 3:10 in the second quarter. Ducharme took an accidental hit to the right side of her head by Aaliyah Edwards’ elbow under the Georgetown basket. Ducharme immediately fell to the floor and grabbed her head, visibly in pain.
She needed help to sit up and was immediately ushered into the locker room. She sat out the rest of Saturday’s game and returned to the bench midway through the third quarter dressed in a sweatsuit with earplugs in and holding ice to the back of her head.
“We’ll know more later today, tonight, tomorrow morning,” Auriemma said after the game about Ducharme. “But, you know, Carol(ine) says she wants to play more. And right now we’re going under the assumption that she will unless we find something to the contrary.”
Fudd, UConn’s latest player to return from injury, checked into the game at 4:15 in the first quarter making her first appearance on the court after missing the last 14 games (21 total) with a right knee injury. She and Ducharme were the first subs off the bench for UConn.
While it took a minute for the sophomore to get going, once she found her shot it was as if she’d never left. Fudd finished with 10 points, four assists, two rebounds and one steal in 17 minutes.
“I think everyone was happy to have her on the court,” Edwards said. “... Azzi coming back, I think she adds a lot to the team both offensively and defensively and it showed tonight.”
Fudd’s presence only further motivated the Huskies.
The Huskies (27-5, 18-2 Big East) looked strong on offense, playing smoothly and in control. UConn committed one turnover in the first quarter as six of the seven Huskies who played scored in the opening 10 minutes.
But it was UConn’s defense that sealed the win and dismantled the Hoyas (14-17, 6-14).
“We wanted to come out and compete and be competitive and make sure we that we took the first punch and that’s what we did,” Edwards said.
The Huskies used their size in the post to block open shots and were physical with double teams.
Georgetown went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal to close out the first quarter and open the second. In that span, UConn took over the lead, outscoring the Hoyas 18-4 in the second quarter.
At halftime, UConn led by 23 and held Georgetown to just 12 points — the fewest points it has allowed any opponent in a half this season. The Hoyas shot 7.7 percent (1 of 13) from the floor in the second quarter and 14 percent total in the first half.
“Everything starts there (on defense),” Auriemma said. “It always has and anytime our defense is good as it was it’s followed very quickly by really really good stuff offensively . ... Defense is just a mindset that you either have or you don’t. And if you have kids that want to stop others, then you have a good defense.
“If you have kids, that it doesn’t matter if the other team scores, then you’re not gonna have a good defense. So I think tournament time, if your team’s not committed to the defensive end, then you’re not going anywhere. You’re not going to win. Regardless of how many times you put the ball in the basket. You’re not. So, I think our players understand that.”
UConn led by as many as 33 and outscored Georgetown in the paint (30-10) and in secondchance points (16-2). All 10 players took the floor with each playing five-and-ahalf minutes or more.
Edwards scored six of the Huskies’ first 11 points of the third quarter to record her 12th double-double of the year after heading into halftime already with 10 rebounds. The junior forward led UConn with 19 points and 13 rebounds on the same day she was named a finalist for the 2023 Wooden Award.
The Mohegan Sun crowd got on its feet when Fudd drained back-to-back 3-pointers to get up to double-digit scoring and extend UConn’s lead to 30plus in the final minutes of the third.
Dorka Juhász also recorded her 12th doubledouble with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Lou Lopez Sénéchal (14 points) and Fudd also finished in double-digit scoring while Aubrey Griffin contributed six points and 11 rebounds.
“The players realize this is postseason play, every possession matters,” Auriemma said. “And we did a tremendous job of executing the game plan.”
UConn will face No. 5 seed Marquette in Sunday’s Big East Tournament semifinals at 3 p.m. The Golden Eagles defeated No. 4 St. John’s in the quarterfinals 52-43.