No. 10 UConn women’s basketball rolls to 78-41 win over Xavier

After UConn’s eight-point win over Creighton last Sunday, coach Geno Auriemma challenged his seniors, telling them the team needed more for them, especially with Paige Bueckers sidelined until February with a knee injury.

In the two games since, including Saturday’s Big East contest versus Xavier, the Huskies’ seniors have done just that.

Making their impact felt in multiple phases of the game, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams guided the team again to a 78-41 victory over the Musketeers at the XL Center. Freshman Caroline Ducharme continued her hot streak by contributing a game-high 20 points, scoring at least 14 points for the sixth time in the last seven games.

Williams improved her efficiency from Wednesday with 19 points on 13 shots to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals, the sort of well-rounded effort Geno Auriemma has been asking of her. Nelson-Ododa was a force on the defensive end, finishing with a career-high eight blocks and five steals, plus 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.

“I’m just trying to do what I can for my team at that moment, whether it’s getting a defensive stop or guarding somebody in the post that needs to be guarded well, or passing well in offense or getting people open, setting screens, different things like that,” Nelson-Ododa said.

With Williams and Nelson-Ododa on the rise and Evina Westbrook bringing an offensive spark off the bench, the Huskies look closer to formulating a sans-Bueckers identity: strong defense and an offense led by not just Ducharme, but the seniors as well.

“If you’re going to keep a senior on the team, they’ve got to be productive. Otherwise you’re wasting your time. You might as well just have four more freshmen,” Auriemma said. “So to be a senior, it comes with a lot of responsibility. You’re here for a reason, and you have to be productive. So what is it that you’re going to bring every game that contributes to us winning? And then we have to expect it and we have to get it every single night.”

UConn’s offense was hot and cold at times Saturday, but the defense had another solid outing, forcing 24 Xavier turnovers and holding the Musketeers to 27% shooting. Making her second straight start, sophomore Nika Mühl helped set the tone on that end of the floor, ultimately coming away with two points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block.

“That’s been a point of emphasis in practice, just getting after it on defense and staying locked in,” Nelson-Ododa said. “[Auriemma has] really made that a huge point for us and making us realize that’s what converts into good offense and gets us going. That’s been something that we’ve been working on throughout the course of the season, but I think it’s really clicking for us now.”

UConn (9-3, 4-0) scored the first 11 points of the game and led by as many as 17 in the first. Williams missed her first shot, a 3, but made her next four attempts to finish the period with 10 points. Nelson-Ododa made her presence known inside with her defense and rebounding, while Ducharme rattled off nine early points as well.

Similar to the Butler game, UConn’s suffocating defense caused fits for Xavier, forcing eight first-quarter turnovers, but the Musketeers (6-9, 1-5) exploited the Huskies in transition as the quarter went on to get a few buckets.

The Huskies were sluggish offensively to start the second quarter, missing all but one of their first eight shots. They found some life in transition when Williams hit Ducharme twice for the score, the first one a layup and the second a 3, to go up 20. Both baskets were made possible by Nelson-Ododa’s defense on the other end.

Ducharme didn’t have one of her more efficient games, scoring her 20 points on 17 shots, but her knack for hitting big baskets and ability to contribute in multiple areas (she also had seven rebounds, five assists and four steals) continues to stand out.

“There’s times when you forget that she’s a freshman out there,” Auriemma said. “She looks a little bit more mature than your typical freshman.”

Those Ducharme makes were part of a 16-6 run the Huskies used to close the first half up 48-23. The Huskies added to their lead with a quiet third quarter where they outscored the Musketeers 14-8.

Sophomore Piath Gabriel played the entire fourth, which she started by scoring four straight layups, and finished the game with a career-high nine points. The Huskies played all nine available players and everyone scored.

“She was great today,” Nelson-Ododa said of Gabriel. “And it was great to see just how hard she’s been working in her workouts, seeing that come to light in the game.”

UConn is back in action Monday at Oregon, its third-to-last nonconference game of the regular season.

Ice Brady in the house

Isuneh “Ice” Brady, one of UConn’s two signees in the class of 2022, was in attendance with her high school team from San Diego, Cathedral Catholic. Brady and her team were participating in Hoophall in Springfield this week.

Auriemma said he liked what he saw from the 6-3 post.

“She looked a lot better than she did this summer,” Auriemma said. “She’s a terrific shooter from the perimeter. She’s a really good passer. She really understands the game a little bit. She moves with a purpose. There’s no awkward steps in the way she plays. And she competes. Her conditioning’s got to get better, like every high school kid. So by the end of June, that kid’s going to help us a lot next year. A lot. A lot. She’s got a great way about her.”

Alexa Philippou can be reached at aphilippou@courant.com