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Nelson-Ododa, Williams score 19 points apiece to lead Huskies
Two games into 2022 and still adjusting as players return from COVID-19 protocols and injuries, UConn looked the most like itself Wednesday night than it has since the beginning of the season.
Led with doublefigure and seasonhigh performances from its upperclassmen, the No. 10-ranked Huskies routed Butler 92-47 Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Seniors Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored 19 points each to pace the Huskies (8-3, 3-0).
Here are takeaways from UConn’s win at Butler:
WESTBROOK LOSES STARTING SPOT TO MÜHL
Wednesday’s game marked the first time in senior Evina Westbrook’s UConn career that she didn’t start. Nika Mühl replaced Westbrook in the lineup against Butler (1-12, 0-4 Big East), snapping a streak of 40-straight starts for Westbrook. Meanwhile, Muhl earned her first start this season and her first since UConn’s opening NCAA Tournament game against High Point in March 2021.
“There’s a lot of energy that Nika brings. There’s a defense intensity that we have when we have her in the game. Her minutes have been limited so they tell us she can only play this many minutes or that many minutes,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma told SNY at halftime. “So, I’m figuring why let her sit on the bench when we can start the game and use those minutes up. You see the difference that she makes in our team.”
Mühl was briefly subbed out three minutes into the game after falling hard on the floor from going up for a block attempt. She was replaced by Westbrook who immediately took over play calling duties. Mühl came back minutes later.
In her second game back after recovering from a foot injury, Mühl finished with five assists and three rebounds in 17 minutes. Westbrook finished with 13 points (her most since against UCLA on Dec. 11) and four assists in 25 minutes.
“Evina can score. She can figure out ways to get the ball to the basket,” Auriemma continued at halftime. “She’s more of a scorer than Nika is so that’s a bigger boost coming off the bench than bringing Nika off. So, I think we help our