Don’t look at Loyola Chicago (1-1) as the mid-major sacrificial lamb sandwiched between a non-conference schedule chock-full of ranked opponents.
Instead, look at the Ramblers as a way for the top-ranked University of Connecticut women’s basketball team (2-0) shore up its rotation, remedy its 3-point shooting and, for the first time all season, play a complete four quarters.
Below are storylines to watch for No. 1 UConn in its mid-November tilt against Loyola Chicago on Wednesday night inside Gampel Pavilion.
Storylines for No. 1 Huskies
The burgeoning role of Kayleigh Heckel: Heckel came off the bench and scored 14 points in 23 minutes versus Louisville. She sank six field goals and finished with 12 points versus Florida State. She’s done it all without hitting a single three pointer (0/5).
But her impact has been felt the most on the defensive end of the floor, evidenced by her six-steal first half on Sunday. The USC transfer has quickly established herself as a go-to for Geno Auriemma in press situations and should continue to see an increase in offensive volume.
“I think the first thing I do when I have the ball is look for my teammates, but I also look for my own shots,” Heckel said. “Over time, I’ve learned how to control my pace and my tempo, so I think that I’m just getting better at that.”
Heckel should be in line for a decent chunk of floor time against Loyola. Keep a keen eye on her aggression — not only as a shooter, but as a defender — as she continues to grow into the system.
Serah Williams’ comfort level: It’s been an awkward start, at least offensively. Williams has scored 13 points in two games and recorded a field goal percentage of .400 in 36 minutes.
“The challenge initially, I believe, is the pace of the game,” Auriemma said after Sunday’s game. “She gets caught sometimes between being rushed and being a step slow.”
Auriemma isn’t worrying, however, so neither should you.
“I think it takes you to the question of how Heckel will fit in really easy,” Auriemma added. “It’s much more difficult for bigger guys. It’s going to take a little bit of time, but I like the direction that we’re going. I need to help her a little bit more.”
Three point shooting: It hasn’t been good. Nor has it been serviceable. The Huskies are a ghastly 11/45 from behind the arc and rank 290th nationally in three-point percentage (.244).
That’d be good for 39th in school history among 39 qualifying teams in Stathead’s database dating back to 1981-82.
Dead last.
“I’d like to see us get more than 19 three-pointers,” Auriemma said after Florida State. “But, again, taking away Paige [Bueckers], that takes away a lot of those opportunities, and we’re going to have to find them as the season goes on.”
Outside of Fudd, whose hit on five of her 15 three point attempts (.333), no Husky has more than two makes from deep and only six players have made a three point field goal. It’s an issue that will need to be shored up before upcoming bouts with No. 13 Michigan (11/21), No. 8 USC (12/13) and No. 21 Iowa (12/21).
A consistent third scorer: Fudd and Strong have combined for 47.7% of the team’s scoring through two games despite seldom playing down the stretch. Both are on All-American watch and are considered among the nation’s best players.
But what about a third scorer? Who’s the third member of the offensive “Big Three?” Williams, as discussed earlier, is on track to be that violent low-post option Auriemma covets but is still adjusting. KK Arnold showed flashes as a scorer against Louisville but finished with seven points on two field goals versus Florida State.
Heckel (14, 12) and Arnold (13) are the only other Huskies to reach double-figures so far this season. Until Williams gets adjusted, relying on one of the two proven point guards to score in double-figures nightly seems like the most surehanded bet.
“She’s a way better offensive player than I thought she was,” Auriemma said of Heckel on Sunday. “She loves that little pull-up.”
Opponent Scout – Loyola Chicago Ramblers (1-1)
Head coach Allison Guth is 35-58 in four seasons at the helm in Chicago. She previously coached at Yale and won 99 games in New Haven between 2015 and 2022.
The Ramblers split their first two games versus Milwaukee (59-55 win) and Green Bay (55-46 loss), respectively.
Alex-Anne Bessette (12) and Audrey Depulta (10) were the only double-figure scorers across the two games for what has been a moribund Rambler offense thus far (249th in adjusted efficiency, 328th in points per game).
Loyola Chicago was picked 13th in the Atlantic-10 Preseason Poll (out of 14 teams) and returns 39.8% of the minutes and 32.5% of the scoring from a team that went 13-17 last year.
Bessette is the team’s leading scorer and is a sizable threat (6-foot-2) on the perimeter. It’s a young squad that’s relied heavily on its five member sophomore class in the early going.