The UConn Huskies registered an 83-69 win against the Villanova Wildcats on Wednesday. Despite the win, UConn’s Sarah Strong wasn’t satisfied with the team’s performance.
Against Villanova, UConn seemed to struggle for the first time this season. They entered halftime trailing the Wildcats by three points. Such a competitive game happened for the first time this season, and for a moment it looked like the Huskies’ unbeaten season was on the line.
However, the team channeled itself in the second half to win the game 83-69. Strong thinks the team needs to do better and not wait for head coach Geno Auriemma to get them in line.
“Starting the game off, playing a full 40 minutes, not waiting until halftime for Coach to yell at us to get better,” Strong said.
Strong had 21 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, four assists and three blocks in the game. She and Fudd, who had 25 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals, set the tone early in the second half. But even Fudd acknowledged that the intensity was not there to start the first half.
“We didn’t come out ready to play,” Fudd said. “Our intensity, offensively, defensively wasn’t there. We just got to be better. We can’t let that happen.”
Geno Auriemma also shared what he said to the girls during halftime.
“I think they knew that something was missing,” said Auriemna. “At halftime, I said, ‘I don’t think we’re all there right now. Physically, mentally, we’re not there.'”
Azzi Fudd Lauds Sarah Strong All-Around Game
Sarah Strong is a big reason why the Huskies are 28-0 and 17-0 in the Big East. With the win, the Huskies won their sixth straight Big East regular season title and 25th overall. Including seven years of winning the American Athletic Conference, this was UConn’s 13th conference title.
After the game, Fudd placed credit where it was due.
“We aren’t super proud of how we performed, but there were a few things we can take from that and be proud of, and that was one of them,” Fudd said. “Sarah does so much for us in every aspect. So, her going out was kind of one of those things where, like, we really needed to focus extra. Everyone needed to step up a little bit more.”
Though the wins don’t show how sluggish the last two games have been for UConn, they got enough superstars and an experienced coach to ride the unbeaten season.
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