UConn women’s basketball demolishes Butler, 103-35

In its first action in 10 days, UConn women’s basketball demolished the last-place Butler Bulldogs, 103-35. The Huskies improve to 8-0 on the season and 7-0 in Big East play, and head coach Geno Auriemma moved into second place on the Division I women’s basketball all-time wins list with 1,099 victories, surpassing Pat Summitt.

UConn’s five starters all reached double figures with Olivia Nelson-Odda leading the way with 18 points an 7-9 shooting.

Aubrey Griffin got her first career start in place of Aaliyah Edwards and recorded her first double-double of the season (and third of her career) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Christyn Williams bounced back from a scoreless game against Providence to finish with 17 points, while Evina Westbrook dropped 14 points and made 6-7 shots from the floor.

Paige Bueckers started slow but eventually turned it on to the tune of 13 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Fellow freshmen Autumn Chassion and Nika Muhl both scored the first points of their respective careers.

Anna Makurat was the only UConn player not to score, though she still racked up six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

33 of Butler’s 35 points were scored by Okako Adika and Genesis Parker. The Huskies forced 32 turnovers, which turned into 46 points down the other end. The Bulldogs scored 15 points in the first quarter but only managed 20 points over the final 30 minutes.

Butler scored the first basket of the game to go up 2-0 but a three from Westbrook gave the Huskies the lead soon after — one they didn’t relinquish.

However, UConn struggled to pull away in the first quarter, failing to make back-to-back baskets without the Bulldogs scoring. That kept the score within single-digits until a buzzer-beater from Nelson-Ododa gave the Huskies a 10-point lead at the end of the period.

While UConn’s offense scored 25 points in the first 10 minutes, its defense wasn’t as sharp, giving up 15 points. However, the Huskies locked down in the second quarter and held Butler to just two baskets and five points. UConn closed the half on 10-0 run and went into the locker room with its biggest lead to that point, 45-20.

The Huskies’ lead only continued to grow in the second half. They used runs of seven points, six points, nine points and six points again to push the gap past 40 points before the fourth quarter even began.

Butler managed just 15 points in the second half as UConn closed the game by scoring the final 18 points of the contest to run away with a 68-point victory. The Huskies hit the 100-point mark for the second time this season.

Next, UConn will travel to Knoxville to square off against the No. 25 Tennessee Volunteers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.