UConn Women Battle Through Early Struggles, Extend Win Streak to 43 With Gritty Win Over Marquette
MILWAUKEE - For the first time in Big East play - and really, the first time in weeks - UConn looked human. The Huskies came out flat, outpaced, and outworked in the early going against a feisty Marquette squad that didn’t blink at the No. 1 ranking stitched across UConn’s chest.
But when things got messy, Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold brought the calm. And once Sarah Strong found her rhythm in the second half, the Huskies reminded everyone why they’re riding one of the most dominant stretches in recent NCAA history.
UConn’s 71-56 win over Marquette wasn’t pretty - but it was gritty. And it was enough to push their win streak to 43 games, tying South Carolina’s 2023-24 run for the seventh-longest in Division I history.
A Shaky Start in Milwaukee
Right from the tip, Marquette came out swinging. Guard Jaidynn Mason set the tone with five quick points, and the Golden Eagles matched UConn’s pace and intensity - something no other Big East team had managed to do this season.
The Huskies, meanwhile, looked rattled. They missed their first four shots, rushed possessions, and left gaps on defense.
On the boards, they got outworked - Marquette pulled down six offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone, compared to just one for UConn. The energy just wasn’t there, and it showed.
Sarah Strong, usually the engine of this team, struggled mightily out of the gate. After sitting out the previous weekend’s game for rest and logging limited minutes against Creighton, Strong looked out of sync. At halftime, she was 1-for-9 from the floor, passing up open looks and missing layups she normally finishes with ease.
Fudd Carries the Load Early
With Strong off her game, Fudd stepped into the void. The graduate guard lit it up from deep, hitting five threes in the first half and scoring 17 of UConn’s 36 points before the break. Her confidence never wavered, and her back-to-back threes - including one off a steal - gave UConn its first lead midway through the first quarter.
Even as Marquette clawed back with a 7-0 run in the second quarter to tie things up, Fudd’s steady hand helped keep the Huskies afloat. Jana El Alfy also gave UConn a much-needed lift off the bench, battling for position in the paint and helping ignite a 9-0 run that gave the Huskies a 12-point cushion at halftime.
Strong’s Second-Half Surge
Whatever was off for Sarah Strong in the first half, she left it in the locker room.
In the third quarter, the All-American forward flipped the switch. KK Arnold found her on three early possessions, and once Strong saw the ball go through the net, there was no stopping her. She poured in 15 points in the third alone, attacking the rim with the kind of force and confidence that’s become her signature.
She wasn’t just scoring, either - she was everywhere. Diving for loose balls, swatting shots, and muscling through defenders in the paint.
Even when Marquette cut the lead to single digits midway through the third, Strong answered with a three that pushed the lead back to 13. She didn’t leave the floor the entire quarter, and her presence completely shifted the game’s momentum.
Arnold, for her part, was the glue. The freshman guard finished with 10 points, a career-high nine assists, and five rebounds - tying for the team lead. Her ability to control the tempo and make smart reads was crucial, especially during UConn’s second-half surge.
Closing It Out
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, UConn had built a 21-point lead. Marquette, to its credit, never stopped competing, but the energy that defined their first-half fight started to fade. The Huskies’ depth and defensive pressure wore them down, and the Golden Eagles never got the deficit back to single digits.
This wasn’t UConn’s cleanest performance of the season - far from it. But in a hostile environment, against a team that came out firing, the Huskies showed resilience. Fudd’s leadership, Arnold’s poise, and Strong’s second-half dominance were the difference.
Now back home before a midweek road trip to Villanova, UConn remains undefeated in Big East play - and just keeps finding ways to win.