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Azzi Fudd scored 31 points and Sarah Strong added 16 points and 20 rebounds to lead No. 1 UConn to a 72-69 victory over sixth-ranked Michigan Friday night in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.
Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said earlier in the week that Michigan might be the best team his team faces this early in the season. He wasn’t wrong.
UConn (5-0) looked like it would run away early, building a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter before the Wolverines (4-1) rallied. They used a 13-0 run to get to 49-45 heading into the fourth.
Fudd ended a nearly 8-minute scoring drought for the Huskies by scoring a 3-pointer to start his own personal 9-0 streak and return UConn to a double-digit advantage.
Michigan wasn’t finished, rallying to within 68-66 in the final minute on a 3-point basket from Syla Swords with 22.2 seconds left. The Wolverines fouled Fudd 5 seconds later and the guard calmly made two free throws to restore the two-possession lead.
Swords responded again by hitting a deep 3-pointer with about 12 seconds left, making the score 70-69.
Fudd then made two more free throws with just under 8 seconds left and Michigan couldn’t get one last shot to tie the game.
Swords finished with 29 points and Olivia Olson added 18 for the Wolverines.
UConn jumped all over Michigan with Strong leading the way on both ends of the court. She had six points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the first 10 minutes as the Huskies led 22-5 after one quarter. Fudd took over in the second quarter, scoring 13 points as the Huskies led 45-27 at halftime.
It was the third time in the last two seasons that Michigan faced a No. 1 team in the poll. The Wolverines lost to South Carolina to open the season last year, then were beaten by Big Ten foe UCLA. Before those meetings, Michigan had faced a No. 1 team only once – a loss to Iowa in 1988.
To be continued
UConn will face Utah and Michigan will face Syracuse on Sunday in the second set of games in this tournament.
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