UConn Women's Basketball earns 85-51 win over USF Bulls
The No. 1 UConn women’s basketball team (8-0) defeated the Southern Florida Bulls (5-4) 85-51 in their return to Tampa Bay since winning the 2024-2025 National Championship.
In the Huskies’ dominant victory, four members landed double-digit games. Within 25 minutes, Sarah Strong earned a double-double, notching 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. So far, this is the sophomore’s fourth double-double of the 2025-2026 campaign.
The preseason Big East Player of the Year looked stunning from all ranges. The 19-year-old splashed three of six (50%) shots from short distance and made two of four (50%) three-pointers.
Alongside the two-way player, Azzi Fudd and Ashlynn Shade tied for the third most points amongst Connecticut with 10 apiece.
The difference maker came from beyond the arc as the Huskies collectively gained 27 points from downtown. As for the Bulls, they could only tally three of 12 (25%) shots. Additionally, the off-the-bench squad stepped up once again. In total, the team racked up 41 points.
Defensively, UConn outworked Southern Florida as they converted 20 turnovers into 26 points.
Unlike UConn’s start against the Xavier Musketeers on Sunday, when they struggled to make a basket for the first three minutes, the squad wasted no time versus the Bulls.
Within the first two minutes of the match, the Huskies took a quick 10-point lead. Shade kicked off the scoring as she knocked down a wide-open deep shot. This led to Strong splashing a three, while Fudd and Serah Williams buried a layup.
However, this advantage did not last long as Southern Florida drained six unanswered points. Coming out of a timeout, Connecticut kept the pedal to the metal, forcing the Bulls into a four-minute drought, allowing UConn to begin a 16-2 run.
From off the bench, Blanca Quiñonez played a key role in handing Southern Florida a 19-point deficit. Within five minutes of taking the court, the freshman sniped two of three (66.7%) shots from long range and went one-for-one from the paint.
Heading into the second quarter, the Bulls continued to face challenges in finding the net. This lasted just over four minutes, resulting in the Huskies adding 10 points to their comfortable lead.
In the final five and a half minutes before halftime, Southern Florida turned the ball over four times. In that time, the reigning National Champions could not exploit the botched plays, as they only posted three points.
By the end of the first half, four Connecticut players registered eight-plus points. With 13 points so far, Quiñonez paved the way, nailing three of four (75%) shots from downtown and making a pair of two-pointers. Trailing behind her, Strong recorded two of four (50%) attempts from beyond the arc and scored two of three (66.7%) field goals.
To begin the third quarter, both teams traded buckets, which was the Bulls’ first three-pointer of the matchup. In the span of about four minutes, UConn found three consecutive shots, but ended after a missed jumper by Strong.
Throughout the entire meeting, the third quarter was by far Southern Florida’s best performance. To begin the second half, the program caught fire, accumulating 13 points. This did not stop the Huskies from staying in control of the contest as they responded with 17 of their own.
To enter the fourth quarter, Head Coach Geno Auriemma replaced his starting five with all bench players. When it comes to shooting, the squad saw a nearly three-minute scoring drought until Kayleigh Heckel finished a second-chance driving layup.
With eight minutes of play, UConn’s freshman Kelis Fisher showed improvements. The preseason Big East Freshman of the Year secured a total of five points, but attacked the rim well and forced the foul.
The Maryland native dropped five points, two boards and an assist. Fisher buried two of four (50%) shots from the field and nailed her and one.
Up next, Connecticut will return to Gampel Pavilion to retire Hall of Famer Sue Bird’s jersey against the DePaul Blue Demons on Sunday, Dec. 7.
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