Azzi Fudd puts in his best effort of the season to help No. 1 UConn defeat No. 6 Michigan

Azzi Fudd scored 31 points and Sarah Strong added 16 points and 20 rebounds to lead No. 1 UConn to a 72-69 victory over sixth-ranked Michigan on Friday night at the Naismith Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase.

Huskies coach Geno Auriemma had said earlier in the week that Michigan might be the best team his team would play this early in the season. He wasn’t wrong.

It looked like UConn (5-0) would pull away with the win early, building a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter before the Wolverines (4-1) rallied. They used a 13-0 run to get within 49-45 heading into the fourth.

Fudd ended a nearly 8-minute scoring drought for the Huskies by hitting a three-pointer to start his personal 9-0 run and restore a double-digit lead for UConn.

Michigan wasn’t done, pulling back to within 68-66 in the final minute on a Syla Swords 3-pointer with 22.2 seconds left. The Wolverines fouled Fudd 5 seconds later and the guard calmly made two free throws to restore the two-possession lead.

Swords responded once again with a deep three-pointer with about 12 seconds left, making the score 70-69.

Fudd then made two more free throws with just under 8 seconds left and Michigan was unable to make a final shot to tie the score.

Swords finished with 29 points and Olivia Olson added 18 for the Wolverines.

UConn jumped all over Michigan with Strong leading the way on both ends of the floor. He had six points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the first 10 minutes as the Huskies led 22-5 after one quarter. Fudd took control in the second quarter, scoring 13 points as the Huskies led 45-27 at the half.

This was the third time in the last two seasons that Michigan faced a No. 1 team in the poll. The Wolverines lost to South Carolina to open the season last year and then were defeated by Big Ten foe UCLA. Before those meetings, Michigan had only faced a No. 1 team once: a loss to Iowa in 1988.

Next

UConn will play Utah and Michigan will face Syracuse on Sunday in the second series of games of this tournament.

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