Dominant Ducharme Leads the Huskies

UConn's Caroline Ducharme has become their leading scorer since key players have been dealing with injuries or Covid protocols. Credit: Jessie Alcheh, AP. 

Here come the Huskies. They are back with vengeance after a tough loss to Oregon last Monday. The UConn Huskies won back-to-back Big East games this weekend. Friday the Huskies took down Seton Hall and defeated St John’s this afternoon. Ranked first in the Big East, the Huskies are currently undefeated in conference play. Stellar performances were shown by freshman Caroline Ducharme and senior Olivia Nelson-Ododa in the win over the Red Storm.

In the post-game press conference, Ducharme along with Dorka Juhász was asked what the Huskies’ team identity is and how it has developed in the past few games.

“We’re going through a pretty hard road right now,” said Juhász. “We were in hell, so I think we go to into every game like we are confident but we’re like underdogs. We have to work really hard on the boards, we have to get steals and stops. When we’re playing good, everybody’s contributing in some sorta way.”

 Evina Westbrook (22) defends St John's Kadaja Bailey during their Big East game today. Credit: St John's Athletics.

Juhász played a majority of today’s game and had some early points for the Huskies. She scored 16, tying her season-high from the UCLA game. She also contributed with nine rebounds and a single assist. She was 7-13 in field goals and 2-5 from the arch. Ducharme earned her career-high 28 points this afternoon, beating her original 24 points in the Louisville game in December. She dished out 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and one block, playing the whole game today.

St John’s latched on to the fast-paced energy of the Huskies from the start. They led the first quarter till Ducharme passed a perfect assist to sophomore Aaliyah Edwards to make the layup to retake the lead. The first half was close, very close. The Huskies did out-score the Red Storm 42-31 to end the half. Nelson-Ododa earned 6 of her 18 rebounds in the second half.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa also earned her second double-double in two games. She grabbed 18 career-high rebounds and had 10 assists. Her senior season might be her best in her career for the Huskies. Senior Evina Westbrook was also a sharpshooter today earning 11 points, adding 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. In her fourth game back with the team, sophomore Nika Mühl has made an offensive comeback. She scored 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists today.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa (R) goes for a block against Rayven Peeples (20). Credit:

Jessie Alcheh, AP.

This was UConn’s 166th straight win in conference play, which dates back to March 2013. Those are wins from two different conferences. Fans, and critics, do not believe UConn is in a competitive conference. They have won five out of six conference games with sophomore Paige Bueckers. Many believe that the Big East offers weaker opponents that are easier to beat. The “real” competition is outside of the Big East, playing ranked teams. Would skeptics say the same about UConn’s victories in conference play if Bueckers were healthy to play? Coach Geno Auriemma already spoke about how his two remaining injured players would have a tough time getting back into his lineup.

“Who would have thought she’d [Ducharme] be doing this,” Auriemma said. “We found something. We knew she was good, we found out she’s really, really good.”

Caroline Ducharme is a humble, rising star for the Huskies. Her UConn career may have looked different in Bueckers' knee injury didn’t occur in early December. Ranked the No.5 freshman in her high school class, Ducharme has proved to be a tough offensive player on this team. She may be quiet, but her maturity and growth this season have been quite a successful one for the young Husky.

(L-R)Christyn Williams, Azzi Fudd, Piath Gabriel, and Paige Bueckers cheer on their teammates during another successful conference game. Credit: Jessie Alcheh, AP.

"I like when people that can shoot take a lot of shots,” said Auriemma. “People that can score, take a lot of shots. The alternative is people who can't score take a lot of shots. Shooters shoot, scorers score. We came out of a timeout and ran a couple plays for Caroline specifically.”

Losing to the unranked Oregon Ducks last Monday did not bring down the fierce and ascendant Huskies. In fact, it lit a fire of drive and intensity for the Huskies to compete at their best in their past two games. Their toughest game is next. The Huskies no longer travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face the No.1 Gamecocks Thursday. UConn will make up a postponed Big East game against DePaul Wednesday evening at 8 pm.