Wednesday night at Gampel Pavilion had all the makings of a celebration-and not just because UConn was cruising to another lopsided win. The evening began with a tribute to Aaliyah Edwards, the latest Husky great to be inducted into the program’s prestigious Huskies of Honor. But by the final buzzer, the spotlight had shifted to someone far less familiar with that kind of fanfare: freshman guard Allie Ziebell.
Ziebell, who had reached double figures just twice since November, caught fire in a way few players ever do in a UConn uniform. She buried 10 three-pointers on her way to a career-high 34 points in UConn’s 97-39 rout of Xavier, tying the program’s single-game record for made threes-a mark previously held by some of the most iconic names in women’s college basketball: Katie Lou Samuelson, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, and Maya Moore.
Let’s pause there for a second. That’s not just a nice night.
That’s walking into the company of legends. Moore.
Mosqueda-Lewis. Samuelson.
These are foundational names in UConn lore, and now Ziebell’s name sits right beside them in the record books.
What made the performance even more electric was how it unfolded. With each shot, the Gampel crowd grew louder, sensing something special.
Every time Ziebell let it fly from deep, the energy spiked. She wasn’t just scoring-she was putting on a show, and the fans were fully locked in.
After the game, Geno Auriemma didn’t dwell on the numbers. “The number isn't as impressive to me as just watching her play with so much confidence,” he said.
“That's the Allie that I saw in high school.” That’s high praise from a coach who’s seen more than his fair share of greatness.
Ziebell’s 34 points didn’t just tie a record-they set a new one, too. It’s now the most points ever scored by a UConn player coming off the bench. And on a night when the Huskies were down six players due to injury, including starter Serah Williams and key reserve Blanca Quiñonez, her performance wasn’t just impressive-it was essential.
She made the most of her moment, going 10-for-xx from beyond the arc, converting her only two-point attempt, and adding a pair of free throws to round out the most prolific scoring night by any Husky this season. That includes edging out Azzi Fudd’s 31-point outing against Michigan.
To put it in historical context, this was just the 26th time in UConn history that a player has scored 34 or more points in a game. That’s a list that includes Moore, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, Tina Charles, Napheesa Collier, and Paige Bueckers. You don’t just stumble into that group-you earn your way in with a performance like this.
Here’s how Ziebell’s night stacks up among the best three-point shooting performances in UConn history:
| Player | Date | Opponent | 3-Point Makes |
|---|
| Maya Moore | Jan. 17, 2009 | Syracuse | 10 |
| Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis | Nov. 14, 2014 | UC Davis | 10 |
| Katie Lou Samuelson | March 6, 2017 | South Florida| 10 | | Allie Ziebell | Jan.
28, 2026 | Xavier | 10 |
And while Samuelson’s 10-for-10 masterpiece in the 2017 AAC title game remains the gold standard for efficiency, Ziebell’s outburst was every bit as memorable for what it represented: the emergence of a young player stepping confidently into the moment.
She wasn’t the only one making noise, either. With expanded minutes available, several Huskies made the most of their opportunity.
Ashlynn Shade delivered a defensive clinic, racking up a career-best nine steals to go along with six assists. Kayleigh Heckel chipped in with personal highs in both rebounds (8) and assists (8), showing how deep this UConn roster can be-even when it’s shorthanded.
But the night belonged to Ziebell. In a program defined by excellence, her performance was a reminder that the next wave of stars is already here-and they’re ready to leave their mark.
If this is what Allie Ziebell looks like when she’s confident, UConn fans better buckle up. There may be more nights like this on the horizon.