The UConn women's basketball team is set to host Providence on Sunday afternoon for a special Senior Day celebration. The top-ranked Huskies will honor five seniors: graduate guard Azzi Fudd, redshirt senior guard Caroline Ducharme, senior forward Serah Williams, redshirt junior Ice Brady, and redshirt sophomore Ayanna Patterson.
While Fudd, Ducharme, and Williams will be wrapping up their collegiate careers, Brady and Patterson still have two years of eligibility left if they choose to continue. Brady is sidelined this season due to a knee surgery, and neither she nor Patterson has announced future plans. Participating in Senior Day doesn't necessarily mean they're leaving, as some Huskies have taken part in multiple Senior Days, including Fudd and others.
UConn secured their 13th consecutive regular-season title with a win over Villanova, fueled by Fudd's 25 points and Sarah Strong's impressive 21 points and 12 rebounds. The Huskies also welcomed back star freshman Blanca Quiñonez, who returned from a shoulder injury.
Fudd is on the brink of climbing UConn's all-time scoring list. She needs 14 points to surpass Moriah Jefferson for 29th place, 16 to overtake Cathy Bochain, and 22 to pass Jennifer Rizzotti. Additionally, she’s just three three-pointers away from surpassing Kia Nurse for seventh place on the all-time list.
Historically, UConn holds a 51-21 record against Providence, with the Friars' last victory dating back to March 7, 1993. The most recent close encounter was a 69-61 UConn win in January 2022.
In their last meeting on New Year's Eve, the Huskies, missing point guard KK Arnold, triumphed 90-53 despite committing 21 turnovers and 19 fouls. Fudd led the charge with 18 points, while Strong added 17.
Providence's standout, Sabou Gueye, led her team with 12 points. Gueye has been a force for the Friars, leading them with 15.3 points per game and earning multiple Big East Weekly Honor Roll mentions.
Since their loss to UConn, Providence has been on a roll, going 6-7 and securing a historic win over DePaul in Chicago. Sophomore guard Orlagh Gormley was a defensive dynamo with nine steals in that game. The Friars are riding a four-game win streak, their longest in Big East play since the mid-'90s, and sit seventh in the standings as they head into the conference tournament.
Providence's freshman Ashley Dinges shares a connection with UConn's Ducharme, having attended the same high school. Gueye, another key player for Providence, also has ties to Connecticut, having attended Putnam Science Academy.
With the conference tournament on the horizon, both teams have plenty at stake, making Sunday’s matchup one to watch.