No. 1 UConn denies No. 6 Michigan a second-half comeback
The No. 1 UConn women’s basketball team defeated the No. 6 Michigan Wolverines 72-69 in the first round of the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.
Within 39 minutes, Azzi Fudd carried Connecticut to victory as she finished the night with 31 points, five rebounds and an assist. Additionally, the two-way player snagged two steals and blocked two potential baskets. This notched Fudd as the game’s MVP.
Trailing behind her, Sarah Strong accumulated 16 points, a career-high of 20 boards and six assists. When it comes to the star forward snatching that many boards, Head Coach Geno Auriemma was not pleased about it.
“That doesn’t say a lot about our other guys,” said Auriemma. “Our other bigs have a lot to make up for. We can’t expect her [Strong] to go out and get 20 [rebounds] every night.
What made the contest close was Connecticut’s off-the-bench players, who only posted a total of five points. In the program’s previous four games, the bench allowed players like Fudd and Strong to take a breather while also maintaining the lead.
In what seemed like an intriguing top 10 matchup, the Huskies flipped the script with their dominating defense in the first half.
“We were taking quick shots and we were missing shots,” said Wolverines’ Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico when discussing the team’s first-half struggles. “They were able to get out in transition, and that was the biggest difference.”
In the first quarter, Strong paved the way to a quick 22-5 run for UConn as she racked up nine rebounds and three blocks. Offensively, the forward buried three of six (50%) shots from beyond the arc but misfired on two three-pointers.
With the help of Ashlynn Shade, UConn took a quick 10-3 lead over the Wolverines. Within the first four minutes of the opening quarter, the wide-open junior splashed a pair of threes.
Heading into the second quarter, Michigan’s guard Olivia Olson stopped the bleeding with a two-point layup, but Connecticut did not miss a beat. Seconds later, Strong found Shade for a jumper, keeping the Wolverines’ deficit at 17 points.
In the second quarter, Fudd stole the show. The leader, who scored 11 points, knocked down three of five (60%) shots from downtown and sniped two of three (40%) attempts from within the paint.
By halftime, the senior contributed 18 points, shooting two of four (50%) from the field and four of seven (57.2%) tries from long range. As for Strong, the sophomore already earned a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards. With two quarters remaining in the clash, UConn led 45-27 after Fudd cashed in a two-point buzzer beater.
In the third quarter, the Huskies faced their first challenge of the contest. Within just over five minutes of the second half, the squad struggled to make a basket. In total, UConn landed just one of their last eight (12.5%) field goals.
“They’re not really a zone team but they had to because that was their only chance; they were going to have to try to slow us down and make us a little more stagnant,” said Auriemma when discussing Michigan’s second-half adjustments.
This plan worked as the Huskies only registered four points in the third quarter.
“Shots that we had, that we were willing to take in the first half, some guys were a little bit hesitant in the second,” said Auriemma.
With slightly over two minutes left in the third quarter, Michigan collectively gained 15 points, which closed the gap to just a seven-point lead.
However, Fudd sparked the light in Connecticut’s offense. Midway through the final quarter, the guard drained a hat trick of threes. With eight minutes remaining in the battle, this put them in front by 11 points.
Despite the 2024-2025 National Champions managing a comfortable lead, this did not deter the Wolverines. Throughout the fourth quarter, Michigan’s sophomore Olson and guard Syla Swords combined for 18 points, which kept the team in the fight.
With nearly three and a half minutes left in the meeting, KK Arnold sealed the win for UConn with what Barnes Arico described as a “crushing” three-pointer.
Up next, the Huskies will take on the Utah Utes at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, with tipoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
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