Other Sports

No. 8 UConn bounces back from loss with 84-60 rout of DePaul

Posted February 11, 2022 6:00 am

By PAT EATON-ROBB

Connecticut's Aaliyah Edwards, left, and Dorka JuhÃ¡sz slap hands during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against DePaul, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

STORRS, Conn. (AP) - No. 8 UConn showed once again that it knows how to bounce back from a defeat.

Dorka Juhasz scored 22 points, Christyn Williams added 20 and Aaliyah Edwards had 19 as the Huskies responded to their first conference loss in almost nine years with an 84-60 rout of DePaul on Friday night.

'œEverybody took that (loss) really personal,'ť Juhasz said.

UConn, which fell by three points at home to Villanova on Wednesday, has not dropped consecutive games since the end of the 1992-93 season, a span of 1,044 games.

Aneesah Morrow had 20 points and 16 rebounds, and Deja Church added 17 points for DePaul (19-7, 11-4), which lost by two points to UConn in Chicago last month.

UConn outrebounded DePaul 47-37 this time around, outscored its opponent 62-30 in the paint and had 18 second-chance points to just seven for the Blue Demons.

Juhasz and Edwards, who combined for just six points and two rebounds against Villanova, accounted for 23 points by halftime in this one, leading the Huskies to a 42-29 lead at intermission.

The 60 points was the lowest total for DePaul this season. The Blue Demons shot just 33% (23 of 69) from the floor, including 24% (10 of 35) in the first half.

'œI think that this game really came and showed how mature we can kind of bounce back on defense,'ť Edwards said. 'œThe steals, the stops not letting them get second shots that really brought the momentum to our offense.'ť

The Huskies won despite playing a second straight game without injured starters Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Caroline Ducharme.

DePaul was without guard Sonya Morris, who was averaging just under 18 points before being injured in Sunday's win over Providence. But coach Doug Bruno said that wasn't an excuse for losing.

'œWe're supposed to have people who can step up and play basketball in other people's absences," Bruno said 'œThat's what you're supposed to do. They did. They had players step up and play.'ť

UConn improved to 21-1 all-time against DePaul, with the lone loss coming in the teams' first meeting in 1983.

'œOut goal tonight was to make history,'ť DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. 'œAnd we didn't do a very good job of that.'ť

BIG PICTURE

DePaul: Morrow now has 18-consecutive double-doubles and 21 this season. She had 30 points and 14 rebounds last month against the Huskies.

UConn: Ducharme, who was averaging 12.6 points this season, missed her third straight game with a head injury. Nelson-Ododa missed her second straight game. UConn said she is dealing with a groin injury. Reigning national player of the year Paige Bueckers is still sidelined with a knee injury that has kept her out since early December.

INJURY UPDATE

Auriemma said Bueckers, who underwent surgery on Dec. 13 to repair the tibial plateau fracture and torn meniscus in her left knee, has not had any setbacks in her recovery and is doing more and more every day.

'œShe's running more, she's doing more basketball stuff on the court, but it just doesn't involve a lot of cutting,'ť Auriemma said.

He said it will be up to Bueckers and her doctors to determine when she'll be able to play again.

'œDo I think she's going to play this year? I do. I do. I really do. I'm not just hoping either, I think she's gonna play.'ť

MORE STATS

UConn forced 14 DePaul turnovers, leading to 20 points. The Huskies had just nine turnovers, leading to eight points for DePaul. The Huskies also had 20 points on the fast break to just four for the Blue Demons.

UP NEXT

DePaul: The Blue Demons wrap up their road trip with a visit to Georgetown on Sunday.

UConn: The Huskies visit Marquette on Sunday.

___

More AP women's college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Connecticut's Aaliyah Edwards is fouled by DePaul's Kendall Holmes (35) as she goes up for a basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Aaliyah Edwards, right, is guarded by DePaul's Darrione Rogers, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Dorka JuhÃ¡sz (14) reacts toward Aaliyah Edwards after making a basket while being fouled during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against DePaul, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Nika MÃ¼hl (10) passes over DePaul's Lexi Held (10) to Connecticut's Aaliyah Edwards (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Christyn Williams (13) shoots over DePaul's Aneesah Morrow (24) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Paige Bueckers waves her finger during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against DePaul, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Nika MÃ¼hl, left, Christyn Williams, back, and Aaliyah Edwards, right, pressure DePaul's Deja Church during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Christyn Williams blocks a shot by DePaul's Kierra Collier (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball gam Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

DePaul's Sonya Morris, center, sits on the bench with teammates during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Dorka JuhÃ¡sz shoots as DePaul's Darrione Rogers, left, and Aneesah Morrow, right, defend during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Nika MÃ¼hl, left, drives to the basket as DePaul's Lexi Held (10) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Connecticut's Christyn Williams is fouled by DePaul's Darrione Rogers (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.