Ducharme Takes Next Step
The Story: The women’s basketball team is finding out that some of its bench players can take on bigger roles, as we saw again yesterday when freshman guard Caroline Ducharme scored a career-high 28 points in a 75-57 win over St. John’s.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Ducharme was one of the top recruits the Huskies brought in this year alongside Azzi Fudd. Ducharme was a spot player to begin the season despite being a top-10 recruit, but injuries have forced her into an important role. She is responding to the challenge and scored 28 points on 22 shots in the win over St. John’s. She had five rebounds and three assists and played all 40 minutes for the Huskies (11-4, 6-0 Big East). This is the third time in the last four games that she scored more than 20 points as she has moved from luxury guard in reserve to critical starter.
WHAT DID GENO SAY? “Caroline is never one to shy away from a challenge. I hate to think about where we’d be without Caroline right now.”
NELSON-ODODA DOMINATES THE BOARDS: Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored only three points, but grabbed 18 rebounds and had 10 assists and two blocks. She combined with Dorka Juhasz, who had 16 points (including the Huskies’ first seven) and nine rebounds as UConn held a 45-22 edge in rebounding.
THE IRON SIX: UConn was without Christyn Williams again because of COVID-19 protocols (even though she was at the game and on the bench) and remain short with Fudd, Paige Bueckers and Aubrey Griffin all out. That left Geno Auriemma to only play six players against the Red Storm. Nika Muhl also played 40 minutes and Evina Westbrook played 39. Aaliyah Edwards was the one sub who gave Nelson-Ododa and Juhasz some rest, and she had eight points in 21 minutes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: The Huskies took apart the Red Storm by scoring 38 points in the paint, 14 second-chance points and 14 points off of turnovers. That kind of tough play inside helped make up for a lack of depth and star power on the perimeter.
SOUTH CAROLINA ON ICE: The Huskies, ranked No. 9, are now set to play DePaul on Wednesday as the game against No. 1 South Carolina, slated for Thursday, was canceled. South Carolina reached out to UConn about canceling the second meeting since the Gamecocks have SEC games to make up. The Huskies, also have conference games to make up and will start with DePaul.
Morning Reads
• It’s baseball season in Storrs next month and always nice hear from Jim Penders on the baseball team and all things UConn. (UConn SI)
• Dan Hurley is one great closer on the recruiting trail and when he gets a recruit on campus he usually gets his man. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
• Jonny Evans‘ overtime goal lifted the men’s hockey team past New Hampshire on Saturday night, 3-2. The men’s hockey team is 10-10 on the season and 7-6 in Hockey East, which is good for seventh. (UConnHuskies.com)
