Fudd Leads Top-Ranked UConn Past Utah

Huskies Finish Hall of Fame Showcase Undefeated; Fudd Scores 55 Points in Two Games

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – “I think I was just more lucky on the game, so I think I was able to push myself more and get more comfortable,” said Azzi Fudd after her dominant performance. The junior guard had 24 points and a career-high eight rebounds in three quarters as top-ranked UConn cruised past Utah 93-41 to finish as the only undefeated team in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on November 23, 2025.

Fudd’s exceptional two-game stretch saw her accumulate 55 points after scoring a season-high 31 points in Friday’s win over No. 6 Michigan. Her aggressive play in the first half drew praise from head coach Geno Auriemma.

“Utah’s coach said that this is one of the most aggressive halves he’s ever seen you play. Was that a conscious decision on your part? Was that just kind of the flow of the game, a natural kind of thing?” a reporter asked.

“I’d say flow of the game,” Fudd responded. “I think my mindset going into every game is just to be aggressive, read what the game gives, not force anything.”

Bench Scoring Powers Dominant Win

Blanca Quinonez had 21 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Sarah Strong added 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocked shots in 20 minutes. Allie Ziebell had a season-high 10 points for the Huskies (6-0), who improved to 47-1 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The UConn bench outscored Utah’s reserves 37-19, showcasing the team’s depth and versatility. Fudd, Strong, and Quinonez combined for all the points during UConn’s 14-0 run to push the lead to 19 points early in the first quarter.

After a 3-pointer by Walker, the Huskies scored the final eight points of the first quarter to take a commanding 32-8 lead. Even with UConn shooting just 36% from the field in the second quarter, the Huskies led 44-19 at halftime.

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Stifling Defense Overwhelms Utah

UConn’s pressure defense rattled the Utes from the opening tip. Utah didn’t make their first shot inside the 3-point line until Brooke Walker’s jump shot with 7:36 left in the first quarter. The Utes had just one field goal in the first 6:46 of the game.

Utah came into the game ranked in the top 25 in 3-pointers per game, but the UConn defense held them to just 21.6% from three-point range (8-37) and 25.9% overall (14-54).

UConn committed three turnovers in the first 3:40, forcing Utah into defensive chaos. The Huskies had seven steals and 18 points off turnovers in the first half alone. The Huskies came up with steals on three consecutive possessions early in the third quarter.

“I think just being at UConn for the first time, there’s a lot of things to take in. You’re learning a new offense, you’re learning how to play with different players, learning what your role is with this new team, being just in this new environment,” Strong said when discussing the adjustment period for new players like Quinonez. “I mean, she’s also in a different country with a new language. There’s just so many factors. So I think that is something that really impresses me about Blanca, how well she handles all of that.”

Third Quarter Explosion Puts Game Away

Fudd’s two 3-pointers keyed a 20-0 run in the third quarter to push the lead to 41 points, effectively putting the game out of reach. UConn shot 61.1% from the field in the third quarter while holding Utah to just 16.7% shooting.

The Huskies’ balanced attack was on full display, with multiple scorers contributing throughout the game. UConn finished with 23 assists on 36 made field goals, demonstrating ball movement and unselfish play.

Compared to Last Year’s Championship Team

When asked how this team compares to last year’s national championship squad just five games in, Fudd offered insight into the team’s evolution.

“I mean, last year, five games in, I think I was just so nervous to play. I don’t even remember what we looked like at that point, but I think that this team, all of the returners from last year, have kind of just taken the experience of last year. Everything we went through, winning, all that, and I think we’ve just been able to build on that and then add all the new people: Blanca, Sarah, Gandy, Kaylee, add all them, Khalees, add them all to rotation,” Fudd said. “So being able to build off what we were able to do last year and then add incredible players like Blanca and everyone else, I feel like it’s just been able to elevate all of us.”

Michigan head coach Kim Barnes noted after Friday’s game that this might be the best UConn team she’s ever seen.

Fudd’s Confidence at New Heights

Reflecting on her journey back from an ACL injury, Fudd expressed a completely different mindset compared to last year.

“Yeah, well, I feel like I’m in a completely different space than I was last year. Like I said, last year was nervous just to be out there, excited, but figuring out who I am now. This is a completely different team than I ever played with. I try to figure out my role, who I was with that team. So now it’s just what can I do, what can I contribute? I know what I’m capable of, and I’m trying to be a great teammate every night,” Fudd said. “I don’t know, I feel like I don’t have those lingering doubts that you have when you come back about, like, am I gonna get hurt again, like, am I the same player? So all of that is out the window.”

Quinonez Adjusting to the UConn System

Blanca Quinonez, the talented newcomer from a different country and basketball system, faced an intense film session between the Michigan and Utah games. Coach Auriemma focused on effort and desire.

“The focus was on the effort that we put into the game. So, how much we want to play and how much we desire to be on the court. So I think it was an intense film after a game in Michigan. So I think all of us, especially me, can take something to learn from that game. So I think this game was better, and I just need to keep doing and get better every game and every day,” Quinonez said.

Strong acknowledged the challenge facing new players adjusting to the UConn program.

“There’s this great urgency. You’ve been in this program for a long time now; she’s brand new. Do you remember what it was like to just get fitting into something and perhaps feel overwhelming urgency or a rush to make everything happen at once? Is that a challenge every new player has to adapt to?” a reporter asked.

“Definitely. I think just being at UConn for the first time, there’s a lot of things to take in. You’re learning a new offense, you’re learning how to play with different players, learning what your role is with this new team, being just in this new environment. I mean, she’s also in a different country with a new language. There’s just so many factors,”Strong responded. “So I think that is something that really impresses me about Blanca, how well she handles all of that. But I mean, Blanca is so talented on and off the floor, so it’s not… it’s something like a challenge that she’s gonna go through, but once she gets through that, she’s gonna be like even more confident in herself, what she’s capable of, what she brings to this team. We all know what she’s capable of, so once she starts to like understand that and feel that as well, it’s gonna be… it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

Fudd Emerging as a Leader

Across both showcase games, Fudd became more vocal in huddles and on the court, trending in the right direction as a leader.

“Izzy, across both of these games, I feel like we saw you be more vocal, just like in huddles and stuff, more visibly than we have. Do you feel like you kind of came into your own leadership-wise over these last two games in any way?” a reporter asked.

“It’s been a process, and I think these last two games were definitely, you know, trending in the right direction for me and working on my leadership. So I would say, like, I’m proud of how I handled the leadership aspect of these last couple games, but obviously it’s still something that I want to continue to work on,” Fudd said.

Utah Struggles Offensively

Lani White had nine points, and Brooke Walker finished with eight points for Utah (3-4). The Utes struggled throughout, shooting 25.9% from the field and managing just 41 points—their lowest output of the season.

Game Summary

• Final Score: UConn 93, Utah 41
• Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Attendance: 6,315
• Game Time: 2:30 PM
• Game Duration: 1:48
• Officials: Paulani Spurlock-Welsh, Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, Tyler Trimble

Scoring by Period

Team Statistics

• Field Goals: UConn 36-67 (53.7%), Utah 14-54 (25.9%)
• Three-Pointers: UConn 11-25 (44.0%), Utah 8-37 (21.6%)
• Free Throws: UConn 10-13 (76.9%), Utah 5-8 (62.5%)
• Rebounds: UConn 41, Utah 32
• Assists: UConn 23, Utah 14
• Turnovers: UConn 12, Utah 24
• Steals: UConn 15, Utah 3
• Blocks: UConn 6, Utah 0

UConn Leaders

• Points: Azzi Fudd 24, Blanca Quinonez 21, Sarah Strong 15
• Rebounds: Azzi Fudd 8, Serah Williams 8, Blanca Quinonez 5
• Assists: Sarah Strong 4, KK Arnold 3, Ashlynn Shade 3

Utah Leaders

• Points: Lani White 9, Brooke Walker 8, Avery Hjelmstad 6
• Rebounds: Brooke Walker 4, Maty Wilke 4, LA Sneed 4
• Assists: Multiple players, 1-2 assists each

UConn improves to 6-0 on the season and finishes the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase as the only undefeated team. The Huskies have now won 47 consecutive games at Mohegan Sun Arena.