The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team took home the 2023 Big East championship by defeating Villanova University 67-56 on Monday. The victory marked UConn’s third straight conference title since returning to the Big East.
By the end of the first half, UConn had gone on a 13-2 run, and the Huskies led 34-24 heading into second half.
UConn finished the game scoring 38 points in the paint and making 49% of its field goals.
Aaliyah Edwards, named the Big East’s Most Improved Player, continued her tournament dominance. She had 12 points in the first half, making baskets in the paint and from down the court. Edwards, who finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, was awarded Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
UConn displayed its dominance from the start, with the offense on the attack. During the postgame news conference, Juhasz spoke about the team’s defensive energy and how the Huskies had to “switch their mindset to be more physical.”
Lou Lopez Sénéchal played hard, tallying seven points in the first seven minutes. She was among the team's leading scorers, totaling 14 points.
“Right from the beginning we had a great chemistry. It was really special,” Sénéchal said about her experience playing in the title game.
Azzi Fudd continued to improve since returning from a January knee injury, dominating with 11 points.
Juhasz reflected on Fudd’s performance.
“She came out really strong in the second half. It was great to see her smile after the second 3-pointer,” Juhasz said.
The Huskies will move on to the March Madness NCAA Tournament later this month to compete for the national title.
Joe Amon is a Visuals Editor with Connecticut Public’s Visuals department. As a photojournalist he has covered breaking news, sports and long form storytelling across the United States.
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