MILWAUKEE — In a commanding performance, the seventh-ranked UConn Huskies defeated Marquette with a score of 77-45 on Wednesday night.
Sarah Strong led the team with 15 points, while KK Arnold contributed 13 points along with six assists. Paige Bueckers and Jana El Alfay also made notable contributions, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively. This victory pushed UConn’s record to 12 wins and 2 losses, with a perfect 3-0 in Big East play, and marked the first home defeat of the season for the Golden Eagles in front of a packed house at the Al McGuire Center.
Marquette fought hard, with Skylar Forbes being the standout player for the team, finishing the game with 20 points. However, the Huskies’ defense was relentless, forcing Marquette into 21 turnovers, leading to a season-low point total for the Golden Eagles.
In terms of individual performances, Bueckers had an off night, shooting 4-of-12, and did not manage to score during the third quarter. This matchup was significant as it served as a homecoming for Arnold, a sophomore originally from Germantown, and Allie Ziebell, a freshman from Neenah.
For Marquette, Forbes accounted for 10 of the team’s 16 first-quarter points, but the Golden Eagles struggled from beyond the arc, making only 3 of their 21 attempts from three-point range.
A critical moment in the game unfolded at the start of the second quarter when UConn, leading 22-16, embarked on an 8-0 run. The surge was ignited by a quick five points from Kaitlyn Chen and a significant three-pointer from Bueckers, expanding their lead to 30-16 and effectively putting the game out of reach for Marquette.
Historically, the Golden Eagles have struggled against UConn, now holding a 1-21 all-time record against the Huskies. Last year, Marquette fell to UConn both in the regular season and in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. The team’s only victory against UConn in Milwaukee occurred on February 8, 2023, when they edged out a then-fourth-ranked UConn team, 59-52.
Looking ahead, UConn will face Villanova on Sunday, while Marquette will host Butler on Saturday.
