UConn Tops USC 79-51, Remains No. 1 at 10-0

The top-ranked UConn women's basketball team extended its perfect start to 10-0 on Saturday with a decisive 79-51 victory over No. 16 USC in Los Angeles, solidifying its position at the top of the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday. The Huskies, who received 24 of 32 first-place votes from a national media panel, continued their dominant run by forcing 20 turnovers and outscoring the Trojans 44-22 in the paint, while holding USC to 30.2 percent shooting from the field.

Azzi Fudd led UConn with 17 points, including three 3-pointers on 6-of-11 shooting, along with four assists and three rebounds. Ashlynn Shade added 15 points, and Sarah Strong contributed 14 points and seven rebounds despite tight defense from USC's Kennedy Smith. The Huskies pulled away early, outscoring USC 15-0 to close the first quarter and building a 39-17 halftime lead after a 24-2 spurt. USC freshman Jazzy Davidson, who had emerged as the Trojans' top scorer in the absence of injured star JuJu Watkins, struggled with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting. Watkins, sidelined for the season after tearing her ACL last March, watched from the bench as her team snapped a 20-game home winning streak.