UConn women’s basketball obliterates Xavier, 104-39

UConn women’s basketball kicked off Big East play with an 104-39 obliteration of the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on Sunday. The Huskies set season-highs in points scored, margin of victory and 3-pointers made.

12 of the 13 players available for UConn scored while six reached double-figures. Allie Ziebell led the way with 16 points, followed by Sarah Strong (14 points), Ashlynn Shade (14), Azzi Fudd (12), Serah Williams (10) and Kayleigh Heckel (10). KK Arnold had a big day with nine points, five assists and five steals while Strong also put up eight assists, six rebounds and six steals.

The Huskies converted 31 turnovers into 42 points, got 45 points from their bench and scored 32 points in transition.

UConn started 0-5 from the field — all of which were 3-pointers — until Strong finally took the cover off the basket with a layup in transition. From there, the points started to flow and the Huskies soon ripped off a 10-0 run that built the lead to 14-2 before Xavier even made its first field goal of the day.

Through 10 minutes, UConn had forced 11 turnovers while holding the hosts to a 2-11 start from the floor.

In the second quarter, the Huskies used an 11-0 burst to triple up the score on the Musketeers, 36-12. UConn eventually went into halftime with a 24-point lead.

The Huskies kept their foot on the gas through the break. They nearly scored more points in the third quarter (35) than Xavier had total through 30 minutes (36 points). Ziebell caught fire during the period, going 4-4 from three in the span of 1:53.

Even with a big lead, UConn finished strong. It opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run and only allowed three points in the final frame. In the end, the Huskies walked out with a 65-point victory.

Gandy Malou-Mamel scored her first collegiate points while Kelis Fisher (six points) and Ayanna Patterson (four points) set and matched season-highs, respectively.

With the win, UConn improves to 7-0 on the season and 1-0 in Big East play. Next, the Huskies will head straight to Tampa to take on former conference rival USF. That matchup is set for Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2.