UConn women’s basketball sees growth from post players entering road rematch at Georgetown: How to watch

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The last time the UConn women’s basketball team faced Georgetown for its Big East opener on Dec. 15, Paige Bueckers was practically unstoppable with 24 points, shooting 11-for-16 in 28 minutes on the court.

The No. 7 Huskies dominated that matchup in Hartford 79-44, but they will have to overcome their superstar’s absence from the lineup for a second straight game when they face Georgetown again in Washington, D.C., on Saturday (4 p.m., SNY). Bueckers was ruled out this week after suffering a left knee sprain against Villanova Sunday, leaving UConn without its leading scorer and most experienced veteran leader.

But Bueckers’ injury couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for the Huskies, who didn’t miss a beat without the two-time All-American in an 81-27 rout of Xavier on Wednesday. Star guard Azzi Fudd had a long-awaited offensive breakthrough scoring 23 points shooting 64.3%, and freshman Sarah Strong had 15 points and seven rebounds in just 20 minutes. The Huskies (14-2, 4-0 Big East) have nearly a month until they face their next ranked opponent, and Georgetown (8-7, 1-3) enters Saturday’s matchup with just one Big East win, over the Musketeers.

Strong put up her second career double-double the first time the Huskies faced Georgetown on Dec. 15, with 17 points and a season-best 14 rebounds plus five assists, two blocks and two steals. The freshman has continued to dominate through the start of Big East play, averaging 16.4 points, seven rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals in just 25.4 minutes against conference opponents. In the team’s first game without Bueckers on Wednesday, Strong shot 70% from the field and led the Huskies with five steals.

“She makes plays that are not necessarily teachable plays, and she does things that only people who have tremendous basketball instincts can do,” Auriemma said. “She has a tremendous feel for the moment, so there wasn’t any conversation or any sense of, ‘Hey, we’re going to be missing Paige so you…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/uconn-women-basketball-sees-growth-185200899.html

Author : Hartford Courant

Publish date : 2025-01-10 18:52:00

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