UConn women's basketball kicked off December with a resounding 85 - 52 victory over the No. 22 Louisville Cardinals in the Women's Champions Classic at Barclays Center on Saturday night. This win marked an important milestone in their season and showcased their exceptional skills on the court.

Azzi Fudd's Injury Scare

The Huskies faced a moment of concern when Azzi Fudd left the game due to an apparent right knee injury. During a fierce battle with a Louisville player while trying to get past a screen, Fudd awkwardly collided and immediately grabbed her knee as she fell. Surprisingly, she managed to stay in the contest for a while and even hit a 3 - pointer on the subsequent possession. However, she checked out at the next whistle and headed straight to the locker room. Thankfully, it seemed that the injury was not as severe as initially feared. "She was walking around, she was fine. It didn’t look like the worst case scenario," said Geno Auriemma postgame. "We’ll know more when we get back but — I hope I’m right — but it’s not that worst - case scenario we’ve seen so many times." Fudd still managed to contribute 18 points and hit 4 - 7 from three in just 18 minutes of play.

Player Performances

Elsewhere on the court, Sarah Strong led the way with 21 points and 8 rebounds, demonstrating her dominance on both ends of the floor. Ashlynn Shade also reached double - figures with 13 points, adding to the team's offensive firepower. Paige Bueckers had a challenging shooting night, finishing 2 - 11 from the floor and scoring only 8 points. However, she made up for it with 10 rebounds and 6 assists, showing her all - around game. UConn won the rebounding battle 52 - 28 and had 22 assists on 33 baskets, highlighting their teamwork and offensive efficiency. The Huskies never trailed throughout the game, maintaining their dominance from start to finish.

Quarter - by - Quarter Analysis

In the first quarter, UConn put together arguably its best performance of the season. The Huskies scored at will, hitting shots from all three levels and going on runs of 5 - 0, 6 - 0, and 10 - 0. They were up 28 - 10 after just 10 minutes, and Paige Bueckers hadn't even scored yet. This explosive start set the tone for the game. But as has been the case all season, UConn struggled to maintain that level of intensity in the second quarter. They went through a dry spell, failing to score for the first 2:32 and turning the ball over at a higher rate. However, they eventually regained their rhythm in the final minutes and still entered the locker room with a commanding 49 - 24 lead. After the break, UConn delivered the final blow. They came out with 10 straight points, gave up a pair of free throws, and then responded with 13 more points in a row. Louisville didn't make a field goal in the third quarter until 56 seconds remained. In the final period, the game was relatively uneventful, but UConn's lead remained substantial.With this win, the Huskies remain undefeated at 8 - 0 on the young season. Next, they will face their first true road game when they travel to No. 10 Notre Dame on Thursday, Dec. 12. This will be another test for the team as they continue to strive for excellence.