Gameday Central: No. 1 UConn welcomes Loyola Chicago to Storrs
A fourth Division I program from a conference starting with the letter A (exhibitions included) comes to Storrs tonight. Instead of an Atlantic Coast Conference program, however, the No. 1 UConn Women’s Basketball team welcomes an Atlantic 10 Conference team.
Game Time, TV channel, How to Watch:
WHO: Loyola Chicago Ramblers (1-1) vs. UConn Huskies (2-0)
WHEN: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET on TruTV
WHERE: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion
The Ramblers are six days removed from a 55-46 home loss to the Green Bay Phoenix. Despite making seven three-pointers, Green Bay outscored Loyola Chicago 20-5 in the third quarter and shot 43.5% from the floor. Conversely, the Ramblers converted just 32.1% of their attempts.
No player shot more efficiently than sophomore guard Alexa Kinas (8.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG). The Kaukauna, Wisconsin, native made three of her seven field goal attempts for seven points. Against a tight Huskies defense, look for Kinas to pick only the best spots to shoot in Storrs.
First-year forward Alex-Anne Bessette has been just as impactful across the season’s first week. The three-time All-Canadian has converted 10 of her 26 shots and is the only Loyola Chicago player averaging double figures. Both of Bessette’s blocks and three of her four rebounds came in last Thursday’s bout with the Phoenix. Do not be surprised if head coach Allison Guth gives the 2025 OSBA champion the start and another 30 minutes of playing time.
Audrey Deptula and Brooklyn Vaughn are shooting 38.5% from the floor (on half as many attempts and makes as Bessette has). Deptula has provided her impact off the bench, leading the team with seven free throws while grabbing five boards. Vaughn, meanwhile, has six rebounds and four steals to start her sophomore campaign.
But UC Irvine transfer Clara Djoko could be the focal point of the Ramblers’ approach. Djoko brings an all-around game from California; she has nine points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and six steals on 44.4% shooting. The 6-foot-0 forward from France leads Loyola Chicago in every aforementioned category but scoring. With time, those skills could make Djoko a frontcourt force in the A10.
Record and projections aside, the Ramblers have enough depth to challenge UConn and complicate their ability to shut down their best player. Eight players have averaged 10+ minutes, with six of them playing at least half of the game. Loyola Chicago has allowed exactly 55 points, collected 20 steals, and won the turnover battle in each of its first two games.
But the Huskies are a vastly different program from the Horizon League foes the Ramblers have contested with. Connecticut has defeated both the then-No. 20 Louisville Cardinals and Florida State Seminoles by double figures. The Huskies led both ACC schools by 28 in the second half. UConn’s two leading scorers are averaging more cumulative points per game than Green Bay and Milwaukee’s top two scorers combined.
It does not help those programs that the Huskies’ leading scorers are former No. 1 recruits in Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong. Fudd has picked up 20 points both in one game (vs. Louisville) and one half (vs. Florida State). When she gets going offensively, the 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player becomes difficult to stop.
Strong, meanwhile, earned Big East Player of the Week honors with 21 points, two blocks, and two steals in each game. Add in her 19 total boards and nine dimes, and the 6-foot-2 forward is as versatile as any player in the country. Strong dominates both offensively and defensively; further increasing her communication is the next piece in the plan.
Both of those former top recruits, whom head coach Geno Auriemma mentions the most when drawing up plays, have met their expectations. USC transfer Kayleigh Heckel has been a wonderful surprise for the Huskies, however. Playing under a system she previously worked with in high school, Heckel has averaged 13 points while recording seven steals off the bench.
The Port Chester native’s defense has complemented junior KK Arnold’s energy. Arnold has averaged 10 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.5 steals in her return to a starting role. The three-time Wisconsin State Player of the Year has added more offense to her game, and it gives Connecticut a potent floor general duo.
Although her impact might not appear on the stat sheets, Ashlynn Shade has contributed immensely to the backcourt. Shade’s averages more rebounds than points, but her defensive pressure has helped the Huskies force 35 turnovers. Once senior forward Serah Williams (6.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG) gets going, UConn could look incredibly deep.
Three-point shooting will be the name of tonight’s contest. Each team has landed 11 buckets from downtown, with the Huskies holding the better percentage at 24.4%. Both made four in their season opener and seven in their previous contest. Whichever program can knock down more triples will come out of this game victorious.
Tip-off in Storrs is slated for 7:30 p.m. on TruTV.
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