University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
17-2,10-0Big East
Butler
7-13,2-9Big East
Shorthanded No. 5 UConn routs Butler behind 20 from Edwards
1/21/2023 3:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — No. 5 UConn trailed Butler by double-digits early, but by the end of the Saturday's game, coach Geno Auriemma was dancing on the sideline.
Aaliyah Edwards scored 20 points, Aubrey Griffin and Lou Lopez Sénéchal each added 17 points and Connecticut, which had just seven healthy players again, routed Butler 79-39.
Dorka Juhasz added 14 points for the Huskies (17-2, 10-0 Big East), who have won 10 in a row.
Jessica Carrothers and Sydney Janes each had seven points for the Bulldogs (7-13, 2-9)
Butler surprised the Huskies early with a 13-0 run that put the Bulldogs up 13-4. But UConn outscored Butler 75-26 from there.
"I knew that once we got some momentum, once we got some flow, that we would be OK," Auriemma said.
The Huskies held Butler scoreless for the last 5:13 of the first quarter and trailed just 13-10 after 10 minutes. UConn regained the lead 18-16 on a jumper by Griffin as part of a 21-4 run that saw the Huskies take a 25-17 lead.
Lopez Senechal had 14 of her points before intermission and UConn led 36-19 at the half.
The Huskies outscored Butler 38-14 in the paint and 21-5 on the fast break. They outrebounded Butler 38-26.
Auriemma, who has struggled himself with illness and the death of his mother in December, was caught on camera dancing after guard Nika Mühl, who had some issues with shooting earlier in the game, made a bucket late.
"It's always a joy when you can make coach smile," Griffin said. "I think we did a great job coming back after that start in the beginning. And it's good to see him enjoying himself."
