UConn beats Iowa State 101-68 to set a program record for 3-pointers

UNCASVILLE – The UConn women’s basketball team dominated Iowa State 101-68 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase on Tuesday night, setting a program record with 20 3-pointers made, its best performance of the season.

Paige Bueckers, Ashlynn Shade and Sarah Strong combined for 83 points in the loss, accounting for 82.2% of UConn’s total offensive production. The Huskies were led by Strong, who narrowly missed his second double-double in a row with 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal. Shade’s 27 points were also a career high, as were her seven made 3-pointers. Bueckers added 27 points and shot 10 of 15 from the field.

“I’ve never seen a team shoot like that,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said, shaking his head. “Basketball is a game of big balls, and they made a lot of them… There was just nothing we could do to stop it, and of course there are nights like that, but the way they shot the ball , was unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a long time.”

The trio of Shade, Bueckers and Strong shot a combined 17-for-26 from outside against Iowa State, while the rest of the Huskies went 3-for-7. Freshman Allie Ziebell made the Huskies’ record-tying 19th 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and fellow rookie Morgan Cheli added No. 20 shortly thereafter. The previous single game record of 18 was originally set in January 2009 and achieved in November 2014.

Iowa State never recovered from a dominant first quarter from the Huskies, powered by a 9-for-10 start from 3-point range. UConn outscored the Cyclones 25-4 in the final six minutes of the first quarter and finished with a 6-0 run to lead 36-10 early in the second quarter.

“After the last few days of training… I really wasn’t expecting this. I thought we were going to have a tough time,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “If the basket looks big at the beginning, it gets bigger as the game goes on. Some players believe that if they score their first two or three points, they can get to the next 23. I think Iowa State is really hard to play against, believe it or not… so the final result tonight was completely unexpected. ”

Shade started her third straight game with redshirt junior star Azzi Fudd still sidelined with a right knee sprain, and the sophomore matched her season high in points less than five minutes into the first quarter. She scored the Huskies’ first 14 straight points, including an 8-0 solo run in which she hit four 3-pointers without a miss and quickly built a double-digit lead. Shade finished the first quarter with 20 points and made a career-high six 3-pointers on 100% shooting from the field.

“It means everything to be a part of something so big, to be a part of UConn history,” Shade said. “It’s just super surreal and I’m glad I was able to contribute and accomplish that with my team… All my teammates, we all hit our shots and that’s what made the game so incredible and fun.”

Bueckers was unstoppable from deep, hitting her first three 3-point attempts in the first quarter for nine points. Shade missed her first shot of the night to open the second quarter, but Bueckers immediately stepped in and made her fourth straight 3-pointer. Moments later, she went on a 5-0 run to give UConn a 27-point lead with more than seven minutes left before halftime.

Iowa State closed the gap in the second quarter as junior guard Sydney Harris found a rhythm from 3-point range. Harris hit three outside shots in the second period and star forward Audi Crooks scored 11 points before halftime to bring the Cyclones to 14 points, but the Huskies held them without a field goal in the final three minutes of the first half to a 54-point total -Bow. 35 lead.

Bueckers took control early in the third quarter and scored seven points in the first five minutes of the second half to fuel a 20-5 run that pushed UConn’s lead back to more than 25. Strong then got hot from beyond the arc and hit three three-pointers in the third period, becoming the Huskies’ third 20-point scorer of the night. She single-handedly outscored Iowa State with 17 points in the quarter.

Crooks scored 22 points, but was six points below her season average, and the Huskies beat Iowa State 33-24. UConn also controlled the turnover battle with 14 points on 14 Cyclones turnovers, while Iowa State forced just eight against the Huskies for four points. Redshirt sophomore Ice Brady, who spent most of her minutes as the Crooks’ primary defender, led UConn with four steals.

“We’re getting a little better. We’re getting a little tougher. We believe in each other a little more,” Auriemma said. “Ice played great tonight. She won’t get much of the box score stuff, but I think she played a great game. We just need everyone to contribute in their own way, and that’s exactly what we’re getting.”

LSU 91, Seton Hall 64: Aneesah Morrow had 24 points and 18 rebounds to help No. 5 LSU defeat shorthanded Seton Hall in the opening game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase. Mikaylah Williams added 22 points for LSU (13-0).

The pair gave the Tigers a 52-25 halftime lead as Williams had 17 points in the first 20 minutes and Morrow contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds. Morrow leads the country in rebounding, averaging 13.7 per game.

Seton Hall was never dangerous in the second half. The Pirates (8-3) were missing six players due to injury, including starters Savannah Catalon (ankle) and Shailyn Pinkney (knee).

An Associated Press report is included in this story.

Originally published: December 17, 2024 at 10:25 pm EST