After beating Seton Hall 91-49 on the road Wednesday evening, the UConn women’s basketball team (25-3, 15-0 Big East) will continue their Big East road trip to face the Butler Bulldogs (15-14, 5-11 Big East) in Indianapolis on Saturday, Feb. 22.
The last time these two Big East foes faced one another was on Feb. 2 at the XL Center in Hartford, where the Huskies took the dub 101-59. The 42-point win was by way of graduate guard Paige Bueckers and freshman forward Sarah Strong.
Bueckers was the sharpshooter for the Huskies, racking up 18 points and three steals, where Strong was the catalyst on the defensive side of things with four blocks and five rebounds.
“I think, not just starting five, but everyone on the team is so good at so many things,” graduate guard Azzi Fudd said to the media postgame on Feb. 2 when asked about the versatility of her team, specifically Strong. “And so, learning what everyone’s specialty is, what their go to moves are, where they like the ball, has been a lot of fun.”
A player on Butler’s squad the Huskies will have to look out for is 6-foot guard Kilyn McGuff. In her senior campaign with the Bulldogs, she has notched an average of 12 points per game. In addition, the Ohio native is ranked third in the Big East for rebounds per game with an average of 8.07 per game.
In her last matchup against the Huskies, McGuff notched 17 points and five rebounds. To keep an adequate lead, it’ll be up to the Huskies to shut McGuff down and prevent her from giving her teammates any good looks around the boards.
With the tougher matchups for the Huskies behind them, Connecticut has just three Big East games left in the regular season. To prepare themselves fully, these matchups will be integral to gain reps, as well as confidence.
With players like Ice Brady and Morgan Cheli still out with injury, that leaves Jana El Alfy, Sarah Strong and Aubrey Griffin as the main options to play at the five.
However, Husky fans should not fret, as the Huskies’ small ball lineup has been feisty as of late, racking up points for the program.
This has been by way of Griffin and Ashlynn Shade. Against Seton Hall, Griffin was the fuel to the fire the Huskies needed, totaling 15 points, a season-high for the graduate forward.
With Griffin and Shade and more players at the helm of the Huskies roster, they should have no trouble taking care of business against the Kilyn McGuff and the Bulldogs.
Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. from Hinkle Fieldhouse. Husky fans can tune into the matchup on SNY or listen in on the UConn Sports Network.
You lost me there in the second paragraph with “took the dub” and “by way of”. Is this localized jargon?