Overview
- Azzi Fudd scored 17 points to lead UConn in a 79-51 win at the Galen Center, with Ashlynn Shade adding 15 and Sarah Strong 14 points and seven rebounds.
- USC’s Jazzy Davidson was held to 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting as the Huskies’ defense keyed a 24-2 first-half surge to build a 39-17 halftime lead.
- JuJu Watkins, out for the season with an ACL injury, was on the bench encouraging teammates as USC fell to 7-3.
- The matchup continued a recent run of high-profile meetings in which UConn has also eliminated USC in back-to-back Elite Eight games.
- Geno Auriemma indicated the home-and-home series likely won’t be renewed due to conference realignment travel demands, and both teams paid pregame tribute to Kobe and Gigi Bryant by wearing Kobe-branded shoes.