No. 3 UConn opens Big East play with blowout win over Providence

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Lou Lopez Senechal and Aubrey Griffin scored 18 points apiece and No. 3 UConn beat Providence 98-53 Friday night in the Big East Conference opener for both teams.

Azzi Fudd scored 17 points, Aaliyah Edwards had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Nika Muhl added 12 assists — her fourth straight game with at least 10 assists — for unbeaten UConn (6-0).

Grace Efosa scored 11 points and Logan Cook finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for Providence (6-3).

UConn made its first five shots and jumped out to the 10-0 lead before Kylee Sheppard got Providence on the board.

The Huskies were 12 of 14 from the field in the first quarter in building a 29-8 lead.

The Friars did score on four straight possessions, with two of the baskets by Brynn Farrell, but the Huskies were never threatened. When Lopez Senechal beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-pointer, UConn led 54-25 at the break.

Griffin had 15 points and Fudd 13 in the first half. Providence’s top scorer, Janai Crooms, missed all three of her shots and was scoreless in the first half. She didn’t attempt her first shot after the break until 8:34 remained in the second half. Crooms came into the game averaging 16.1 points and finished with four.

BIG PICTURE

Providence is off to a 6-3 start, with all the games against unranked teams. The Friars lost their 32nd straight against UConn. The last Providence win against UConn came in the semifinals of the 1993 Big East tournament.

UConn warmed up for its first road game against a ranked team. The Huskies play at seventh-ranked Notre Dame on Sunday. The Huskies won their conference opener for the 10th season in a row.

UP NEXT

Providence: Hosts No. 25 Villanova on Sunday.

UConn: At No. 7 Notre Dame on Sunday.

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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25