The top-ranked UConn women’s basketball team (13-0, 4-0) will play its 41st game of 2025 on New Year’s Eve at Amica Mutual Pavilion against Providence (8-6, 1-2) on Wednesday.
Of the 40 games the Huskies have played through the year’s first 364 days, they’ve won 39 of them – by an average of 33.6 points per contest. Twelve of those 39 wins came against ranked teams. Eleven of those 39 wins came by over 40 points.
Connecticut hasn’t lost in 328 days (Feb. 6 at Tennessee), swept both the Big East regular and post season conference championships and plowed its way through the NCAA Tournament enroute to the program’s 12th national title in April.
Status quo in Storrs.
But Geno Auriemma’s squad can’t brag about its near sterling 2025 just yet. A trip to Providence for a date with the bristling Friars looms on New Year’s Eve, as the Huskies – catalyzed by a 94-47 win over Butler on Sunday – look to close out the year with their 29th consecutive victory.
Storylines to Watch for No. 1 UConn
The health of backup point guard Kayleigh Heckel: Heckel, who fell on two occasions on Sunday after taking ball screens at midcourt, left the game with an apparent upper body injury and did not return.
Heckel remained down on the court before walking off to the bench, where she stayed for the rest of the game. She did take part in the post-game handshake line.
There has not been any update regarding Heckel’s status as of Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. (when this is being written).
Getting open 3-pointers: Connecticut’s 9.4 made 3-pointers per game ranks 19th in the country through two months, but Providence, anchored by a stout defense, allows just 5.4 made treys per night on 19.4 attempts (.278).
Auriemma has stressed the need to take more 3-pointers (to reach his goal of having roughly 1/3 of the team’s shots come from behind the arc) multiple times this season.
Wednesday’s test against one of the country’s hardiest 3-point defenses will be a good opportunity for the Huskies to flex that muscle.
Other Injury News: Caroline Ducharme has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury that has kept her in a brace on the bench. The redshirt senior played a season-high 11 minutes against Marquette on Dec. 17 but was ushered off the court and did not return.
Ice Brady, who hasn’t played since the Huskies’ 99-67 win over Florida State on Nov. 9, remains out with knee inflammation. Morgan Cheli has “made good progress” with her ankle, according to Auriemma, but remains sidelined.
Opponent Scout: Providence Friars (8-6, 1-2)
A 4-1 start for Erin Batth’s fourth squad in Friartown squad was deflated by a six-point loss to Middle Tennessee State in late November. The Friars have been picked off four times since, including a three game skid that was capped off by a 57-51 defeat against in-state rival Rhode Island on Dec. 10.
An overtime win over Georgetown on Dec. 21 was quickly overshadowed by a 96-55 stomping at South Carolina on Sunday, which leaves Providence at 8-6 heading into Wednesday’s game against the Huskies.
The scoring is headed by the trio of Sabou Gueye (14.1), Teneisia Brown (10.1) and Payton Dunbar (10), who combine for 57% of the team’s 59.2 points per game.
Gueye has led the team in scoring on six different occasions, which includes a season-high for any Friar (23 points) in the team’s 68-61 win over Georgetown.
Batth has built her team on a defensive bedrock. Providence currently ranks 45th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (84.5) and 66th in 2-point defense (.414), holding opponents under 60 points seven times.
Finding easy baskets won’t be as easy as it was on Sunday for the Huskies, especially considering the Friars’ size inside with Brown (6-foot-2) and Nalani Kaysia (6-foot-2), but if Connecticut can open up the floor in transition and slow down the PC frontcourt, lanes will open down low.