12/13/25 06:39:00
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12/13 18:37 CST Azzi Fudd leads No. 1 UConn's 79-51 rout of 16th-ranked USC
with JuJu Watkins looking on
Azzi Fudd leads No. 1 UConn's 79-51 rout of 16th-ranked USC with JuJu Watkins
looking on
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Azzi Fudd scored 17 points and No. 1 UConn routed
16th-ranked Southern California 79-51 on Saturday, snapping the Trojans'
20-game home winning streak with their best player on the bench watching.
JuJu Watkins also didn't play when UConn beat USC 78-64 in the Elite Eight of
the NCAA Tournament in March. She tore her ACL in the second round and is
sitting out this season while rehabbing.
The Huskies (10-0) shut down USC star freshman Jazzy Davidson, who was held to
10 points on 3 of 13 shooting.
USC led 9-8 before UConn pulled away.
The defending national champion Huskies ran off 15 straight points to end the
first quarter as part of a 24-2 spurt that gave them a 32-11 lead early in the
second quarter. Davidson's jumper --- her only one of the first half --- was
one of just seven field goals for the Trojans before halftime, when UConn led
39-17.
Watkins did her best to keep her teammates loose and confident during timeouts
and as they came in and out of the game. But she couldn't do anything about the
Trojans' poor shooting and UConn's swarming defense.
USC had no answer defensively, either. As soon as the Trojans packed the paint,
UConn would burn them by hitting a 3-pointer. And the Huskies didn't even have
their usual great game from long-range, hitting 7 of 19.
Kennedy Smith had 16 points and seven rebounds to lead the Trojans (7-3), who
also lost to then-No. 2 South Carolina 69-52 last month in Los Angeles. Their
lone win against a Top 10 opponent so far was then-No. 9 N.C. State 69-68 in
the second game of the season.
USC's only sustained run of the game ended the third quarter, with the Trojans
outscoring UConn 18-9 to trail 69-39. Jana El Alfy's basket gave the Huskies
their largest lead of 39 points earlier in the period.
Ashlynn Shade added 15 points and Sarah Strong had 14 points and seven rebounds
for UConn.
UConn alum Diana Taurasi and USC alum and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer
Cheryl Miller shared a pre-game hug wearing their respective school clothing.
Up next
UConn: Hosts Marquette on Wednesday.
USC: Hosts Cal Poly on Thursday to end a six-game homestand.
___
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