BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Interstat) — Azzi Fudd scored 27 points and Sarah Strong added 23 to lead top-ranked Connecticut to a 90-64 victory over Iowa in the Shark Beauty Champions Classic on Saturday. The Huskies improved to 12-0, using a 22-point first quarter to set the tone before 10,107 fans at Barclays Center. Connecticut’s defense forced 25 turnovers, converting them into 41 points. The Hawkeyes, who fell to 10-2, were led by Hannah Stuelke’s 17 points and Chazadi Wright’s 16. Iowa shot 49% from the field but was overwhelmed by Connecticut’s 17 assists and 13 made 3-pointers. The Huskies never trailed, extending their lead each quarter.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Interstat) — The top-tier clash at the Shark Beauty Champions Classic on Saturday was decided not by a singular dramatic shot, but by a relentless, suffocating defensive performance that has become the hallmark of Geno Auriemma’s Connecticut Huskies. Facing an Iowa team known for its offensive efficiency, the Huskies authored a masterclass in disruption, forcing 25 turnovers and converting them into a staggering 41 points en route to a decisive 90-64 victory before a crowd of 10,107 at Barclays Center. The game’s defining characteristic emerged early and never relented. Connecticut’s pressure, particularly from its guards, dismantled Iowa’s offensive rhythm. The Huskies recorded 17 steals, with forwards Sarah Strong and Blanca Quinonez and guard Azzi Fudd combining for 10 of them. This defensive havoc directly fueled Connecticut’s transition offense, creating a wave of easy baskets that Iowa could not stem. While the Huskies’ defense set the table, the offensive feast was led by the dynamic duo of Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong. Fudd, the veteran guard from Arlington, Virginia, poured in a game-high 27 points, showcasing her full arsenal with four 3-pointers and several explosive drives to the basket. She added three assists and three steals in 36 minutes. Strong, the versatile forward from Durham, North Carolina, was equally dominant, finishing with 23 points, four assists, four steals and two blocks. Her ability to score inside and out, coupled with her defensive activity, made her a constant problem for the Hawkeyes. Iowa, which entered the game averaging over 80 points per contest, was held to a season-low 64 points on 49% shooting. The Hawkeyes were led by Hannah Stuelke of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who fought for 17 points and five assists, and Chazadi Wright of Atlanta, who added 16 points. However, their efforts were undermined by the team’s collective struggle with Connecticut’s length and athleticism. Iowa managed only six assists against its 25 turnovers, a catastrophic ratio that underscored the day’s struggles. Connecticut established control from the opening tip, closing the first quarter on a 12-2 run to lead 22-12. The Huskies extended their advantage in the second quarter, capitalizing on a flurry of Iowa miscues. A pivotal sequence saw Strong block a Taylor Stremlow layup, secure the defensive rebound, and then race downcourt to finish a driving layup, pushing the lead to 15. The Huskies took a 42-31 lead into halftime, having already scored 20 points off 14 Iowa turnovers. Any hope of an Iowa comeback was extinguished in the third quarter. After the Hawkeyes cut the deficit to 11, Connecticut unleashed a 13-2 run, keyed by a Fudd 3-pointer and a Strong steal and assist for an Ashlynn Shade three. The Huskies outscored Iowa 23-13 in the period to lead 65-44, effectively putting the game out of reach. The Huskies’ depth was on full display. Quinonez, from Milagro, Ecuador, provided a crucial spark off the bench with 10 points, five assists and three steals. KK Arnold of Germantown, Wisconsin, directed the offense with six assists, while Serah Williams, playing in her hometown, anchored the paint with three blocks. Connecticut shot 52% from the field and made 13 3-pointers, a testament to the quality of looks generated by their defensive effort. The victory extends Connecticut’s perfect start to 12-0 this season, while Iowa falls to 10-2. The Hawkeyes, who suffered a narrow loss to Iowa State earlier in the month, will look to regroup before opening Big Ten Conference play at home against Penn State on Dec. 28. Connecticut, meanwhile, continues its march through a formidable schedule, next traveling to face Butler on Dec. 28 as it seeks to maintain its unblemished record in Big East play. The most important part of the game, as detailed in the play-by-play, was Connecticut’s immediate and sustained defensive pressure in the first half. The sequence beginning late in the first quarter, where consecutive steals by Sarah Strong led directly to fast-break baskets for herself and Serah Williams, typified the evening. This turned a modest early lead into a double-digit advantage that Iowa, reeling from the constant harassment, never seriously challenged. Connecticut’s ability to generate offense directly from its defense was the engine of the entire victory.