UConn managed a comeback against Depaul on Wednesday 80-78 as freshman guard Azzi Fudd made a thundering return to the court.
It’s No. 10 UConn’s 20th-straight win against DePaul in the series between the two Big East teams. It also extends the Huskies’ regular-season conference winning streak to 143 games, a DI record.
Originally scheduled to play Dec. 31, the matchup was postponed due to COVID-19. It was rescheduled for Wednesday after the matchup between UConn and No. 1 South Carolina was canceled to prioritize conference play.
Up by nine at the half, the Blue Demons were outscored 23-13 in the third quarter before rebounding in the fourth to keep it close. A last-second tiebreaking layup by Caroline Ducharme was the only difference maker between the two teams.
Still without Paige Bueckers, the Huskies were boosted by the return of Christyn Williams and Azzi Fudd. Williams has been out for three games due to COVID-19 protocols while Fudd has been out since November with an ankle injury.
Williams scored 17 points while Fudd came off the bench to add 15 points and three steals. Ducharme had a team-high 19 points but found herself in foul trouble late in the game.
“Caroline got in some foul trouble, so if [Fudd and Williams] didn’t play, there’s no way that we could have won this game today,” head coach Geno Auriemma said postgame.
DePaul freshman standout Aneesah Morrow contributed a game-high 30 points and 14 rebounds. Teammate Sonya Morris added 19 points.
“We had them. We really missed the opportunity,” Morris said. “So I think we’re really just going to learn from it and grow from it individually and as a team.”
UConn is back in action against Providence on Sunday.