NCAAW: Fudd, Strong & UConn embarrass Tennessee with record victory

For the first time all season, No. 1 UConn trailed in the second quarter. Then, they entered the halftime break tied.

And still, the undefeated Huskies won by 30 points, rolling over No. 15 Tennessee in the final 20 minutes to send the visiting Lady Vols to the worst-ever loss in the UConn-Tennessee rivalry, 96-66.

Husky stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong combined for 53 points to help flip the game. Fudd hit five 3s on her way to 27 points, adding seven assists, seven rebounds and four steals to her stat line. Strong finished 26 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

At this point, it will take the outlier of all outlier performances from an opponent for UConn to NOT finish the regular season unbeaten.

Here are five more significant takeaways from a Sunday stacked with women’s college basketball action:

1. The Wolverines and Spartans are for real

A halfcourt heave from Inés Sotelo nearly gave the No. 13 Michigan State an incredible win over their in-state rival, No. 9 Michigan.

The potential game-winner rimmed out, sending the game to overtime, where Michigan took control to hold on for the 94-91 win.

A career-high 26 points from Mila Holloway led Michigan to the rivalry game victory, while Kennedy Blair did her best to keep pace with a 21-point and 10-rebound double-double for Michigan State.

However, the biggest loser in this one was other Big Ten teams, as no opponent should be excited to see either the Wolverines or Spartans on their schedule. And the real winner? All the fans who get to watch these two go at it again in Ann Arbor of Feb. 15.

2. The Big 12 has a Big 4

Most analysts likely would cite No. 12 TCU and No. 14 Baylor as the Big 12 favorites. Yet, both teams lost on Sunday to two squads that have firmly inserted themselves in the conference championship conversation: No. 21 Texas Tech and No. 22 West Virginia.

In Lubbock, the Red Raiders proved that they were not just an early-season “cute story,” going from an undefeated 19-0 to mostly average, by beating the Horned Frogs, 62-60.

Snudda Collins was the spark for TTU, with the reserve scoring 15 of her career-high tying 28 points in the fourth quarter. She hit a dagger 3 with just over 30 seconds remaining, giving the Red Raiders a 3-point lead. After that, Collins and Bailey Maupin would hit enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

The Mountaineers, meanwhile, confirmed that Morgantown is one of the toughest places to play.

The WVU defense caused all kinds of trouble for Baylor, as the Bears scored just nine first-quarter points, shot 30 percent from the field and committed 30 turnovers. The Mountaineers turned all those turnovers into 38 points. They also benefitted from a 45-32 rebounding advantage. Kierra Wheeler led that effort with 15 boards, with her 18 points also giving her the double-double.

TCU and Baylor remained tied atop the Big 12 standings, with both Texas Tech and West Virginia lurking in second place.

3. LSU is a long way away from 0-2

Remember when No. 6 LSU began their SEC schedule 0-2?

The Tigers are doing an excellent job of erasing any memory of their early conference struggles, with their latest effort being a 40-point obliteration of No. 24 Alabama, 103-63.

LSU lit up Bama for more than 100 points, their first time crossing the century mark in conference play, with contributions from up and down the roster. Jada Richard scored a team-high 16 points, with Mikaylah Williams and ZaKiyah Johnson both adding 15 points.

LSU shot 58 percent from the field and 48 percent from 3, while also hitting 19 free throws. The Tigers grabbed 43 rebounds to the Tide’s 28. They also blocked 11 shots. They, indeed, put on a show.

The Tigers’ next game, however, will test how much progress they’ve really made.

4. No team protects home court like Texas

That opponent? No. 4 Texas.

In outlasting No. 10 Oklahoma to win the Red River Rivalry game, 78-70, the Longhorns extended their home winning streak to 38 games, underscoring the tall task facing LSU on Thursday.

On Sunday, a team-wide effort took Texas to the win, with five Longhorns scoring in double figures. Justice Carlton matched Madison Booker for the team high with 16 points. Carlton, an emerging “star in her role,” also tallied a team-best eight boards and two steals.

Jordan Lee hit two 3s for Texas, as did Aaliyah Crump, helping the Longhorns nearly match the Sooners’ output from long range; Texas, however, was 5-for-11 (45 percent) from 3, while Oklahoma went 6-for-21 (29 percent).

Texas’ overall offensive efficiency, combined with a defense that turned Oklahoma over 21 times, helped the ‘Horns maintain a comfortable-enough advantage over their rivals for most of the afternoon.

5. UCLA flexes their depth and dominance

No. 8 Iowa likely wishes that neither of the LA teams joined the Big Ten. Off to the program’s best start in 30 years, the Hawkeyes are heading back to Iowa City with a pair of losses, first to unranked USC and then to No. 2 UCLA.

In the second quarter, the Bruins turned a close contest in a comfortable win, ultimately cruising to the 88-65 victory over the visiting Hawkeyes.

Sixth-player Angela Dugalić enjoyed a star turn for the Bruins. Requiring more size to combat Iowa’s double-big lineups, head coach Cori Close called on Dugalić and the sixth-year senior delivered, scoring a season-best 22 points while nabbing a career-high five steals. She also swished three of UCLA’s six 3-pointers.

Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice slotted into supporting roles, with Betts providing an efficient 16 points in just over 20 minutes while Rice had 17 points and seven assists.