Azzi Fudd delivered a dominant performance on Sunday, leading No. 7 UConn Huskies to an 87-58 victory over No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks, ending USC’s 71-game home winning streak. The Huskies controlled the game from the first quarter and never looked back, securing a statement win against one of the top teams in the country.
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong Leading UConn Snaps South Carolina’s Streak
Sarah Strong added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Huskies, while Paige Bueckers contributed 12 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. UConn had lost their last four matchups against South Carolina, but this time, they took over early and built a commanding lead.
By halftime, the Huskies were already ahead by 22 points, making a comeback nearly impossible for the Gamecocks.
During the postgame interview, Fudd was asked about her recent performances and what had changed for her.
“I think just my focus and my mentality, I think been working on stacking good days,” Fudd said. “I think these last couple weeks in practice, I’ve been super focused, super intentional in everything I’ve been doing offensively, defensively.”
“But yeah, I also think it helps when my teammates are playing incredible and find me the ball, sent me great screens, and they were so great tonight,” she continued.
Another question directed at Fudd asked what had been working so well for her coming out of halftime.
“I mean, I missed all my shots when we came out at halftime when I was shooting, so either they were all going to go in, or I was going to miss all of them,” she replied. “But like I said, my teammates have been sending me incredible screens, passing me great passes, and just setting me up and giving me great looks.”
“So all I have to do is shoot the ball, which I’ve been doing every day for the last 20 years. So they make it super, super easy for me,” Fudd added.
Strong was also asked about UConn’s performance, and she emphasized teamwork and effort.
“Yeah, we just stayed together throughout the whole game,” she said. “Our focus was on being aggressive as them and boxing out and just playing every possession. You know, we’ve endured perfect seasons, you know, where you’re chasing something that’s so difficult to achieve.”
Head coach Geno Auriemma reflected on what made this game different.
“To me, the idea of playing, you know, perfect basketball is more about decision making, making sure that we’re connected and playing five on five, that players are in tune with each other, that you’re getting contributions from a lot of people at key times,” Auriemma said.
“You know, hey, I’ve come down in this building and won by a lot, come down here and got smacked a little bit a couple times. So I know how hard it is to play on the road against a great program like this,” the head coach added.
Huskies Dominate on the Road
South Carolina struggled to respond, marking its first home loss since Dec. 3, 2020, when North Carolina State defeated it 54-46. This loss ended the fourth-longest home winning streak in Division I women’s basketball history.
Fudd continued her hot streak, following up her career-high 34 points against St. John’s by torching the Gamecocks’ defense. She knocked down six of UConn’s 13 three-pointers, including four in the third quarter, effectively shutting down any chance of a South Carolina comeback.
Joyce Edwards led South Carolina with 17 points, but the Gamecocks could not match UConn’s firepower. The Huskies had recently suffered a tough loss to Tennessee, falling 80-76 earlier in the month, but this win put them right back into championship contention.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
With Fudd playing at this level, UConn has positioned itself as a serious contender heading into the postseason.
South Carolina now looks to regroup before their next matchup, closing out a three-game homestand against Arkansas on Thursday night.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
