The UConn women’s basketball program honored a member of its family, Abby Zittoun, during its Play4Kay game on Sunday afternoon against Butler.
The 13-year-old superfan turned member of the Husky family lost her battle with cancer after seven years in October.
The team honored the Zittoun family with flowers, framed photos and a check, which was presented by Caroline Ducharme during the first media timeout. Abby’s favorite songs were also ringing throughout the arena all game, a touching tribute to one of the program’s most cherished friends.
The XL Center was decorated in pink for cancer awareness, as seas of pink wigs and pom-poms poured through the entrance gates to honor all of those affected by the disease.
“Abby became more than just a symbol of what we were doing,” Geno Auriemma said post-game. “She became an inspiration to us all.”
The team certainly seemed inspired on the court.
The Huskies (21-2, 12-0) piled on 31 first-quarter points en route to a third triple-digit performance since Dec. 17 and 32nd consecutive Big East regular-season victory.
“I would like to think we have things trending in the right direction,” said Auriemma.
The team shot 69% from the field and 70% from beyond the arc in the first half. Redshirt senior Paige Bueckers scored 16 of her 18 points in the game’s first two periods, slicing through the heart of the Bulldog defense and getting to the rim with ease.
Bueckers scored all of her points from inside the arc, attempting just one three-pointer which bounced off the iron in the first quarter.
Shade was the only other Husky to reach double-digits by the end of the first half, recording 10 points on an 80% mark from the field. Shade wrestled for rebounds repeatedly until she got the looks she wanted from the post.
Freshman Sarah Strong also aided in the Husky offensive onslaught. Strong nestled into the high post and found open cutters routinely before detonating the interior of the Bulldog defense for a 5/6 mark from the field and grabbing five rebounds. Strong has failed to reach double digits just once this season, adding to her impressive first-year resumé.
The Huskies led wire-to-wire, starting the afternoon off on an 8-0 run, which forced an early Butler timeout. The Bulldogs managed just one field goal attempt to Connecticut’s four during that stretch.
Bulldog guard Kilyn McGuff scored the first Butler points of the game on a catch-and-shoot three – a common theme for the standout senior. McGuff finished with 17 points on five made three-pointers.
Only two other Bulldogs scored more than five points, however, as Butler struggled to find looks inside all game (14 total points in the paint).
Connecticut ended both of the first two quarters on momentum-swinging runs, including a 9-0 run over the final 2:25 in the first quarter and 8-0 run to end the second. The Bulldogs were outscored by 15 points in points off turnovers in the first half.
Auriemma still expressed the need for the frontcourt to develop in preparation for tests at Tennessee and South Carolina later this month; “It’s something we’ve talked about a lot and something that we have to keep harping on.”
Butler snared 12 offensive rebounds – eight of which came in the first half – and continuously found themselves with second-chance points opportunities down low. Fortunately, the collapsing guards often jammed the ball free from the hands of the Bulldog rebounder.
KK Arnold (12 points on 6/6 shooting) reinforced her belief that defensive energy wins games, telling the media post-game that the defensive end of the floor is where she finds her identity and purpose.
Arnold wasn’t the only defensive pest in the Husky backcourt, however. Both Bueckers and Chen forced turnovers early, which built the UConn lead.
Redshirt freshman Jana El Alfy scored 10 points in the win, including a streak of four in a row to open the second half.
In the starter’s final act, Chen found Bueckers under the basket with a sensational no-look pass to pump up the lead to 36. Bueckers did not record a minute in the fourth quarter, as freshmen Morgan Cheli and Allie Ziebell patrolled the backcourt alongside Arnold in the final period.
UConn recorded its 21st victory of the season and fifth by 40 points or more. The Huskies take an 11-game win streak to Knoxville for a heavyweight tilt against No. 18 Tennessee on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.