After their tough loss to Notre Dame, UConn has bounced back in style, hitting the road and responding with dominant performances. They first took down Georgetown with a commanding 79-44 win on Sunday, and now they’ve added another victory in Big East play against Iowa State. While the latter, previously ranked No. 18, had fallen out of the rankings after a tough loss to Iowa, they still came into this matchup with momentum, having rebounded with an impressive 87-55 win over Eastern Illinois. Adding to the Cyclones’ confidence was UConn’s injury-plagued roster.

The No. 4 UConn Huskies, now 9-1, have been battling through significant setbacks with key players unavailable. Redshirt junior Azzi Fudd, who recently returned from an ACL and meniscus tear suffered last November, had been sidelined again after re-injuring her right knee during a game against Louisville on December 7th. But glimpses from practice show positive signs.

“No game day braids in for Azzi, but she is not wearing sweats. I count that as a win! Leg sleeve Azzi is [fire emoji],” read an update. The star guard was spotted wearing sweats during her last absence from a game. The upgrade now seems to ignite hope.

Fudd, who had averaged 10 points with 50% shooting in 17 minutes per game, missed her last two matchups, including the showdown against Iowa State. But Fudd’s is the only positive.

Sixth-year senior Aubrey Griffin, who tore her ACL in January, remains on the bench, with head coach Geno Auriemma targeting UConn’s January 1st game against Marquette for her return.

Meanwhile, redshirt junior Caroline Ducharme has been day-to-day since November, dealing with head and neck injuries. Adding to the woes, Ayanna Patterson is out for the entire season after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this week. With only nine players available, questions loomed over whether the Huskies could pull off another win.

But UConn answered emphatically

The No. 4 Huskies powered past Iowa State with a resounding 101-68 victory, thanks to stellar performances from Sarah Strong, Paige Bueckers, and Ashlynn Shade. Strong led the charge with a career-high 29 points, while Bueckers followed closely with 27 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.

Ashlynn Shade also stepped up in a big way, scoring her career-best 27 points, including an incredible seven three-pointers. Shade’s hot streak was pivotal, leading a 10-0 run for UConn and contributing 20 points while making all seven of her attempts count. The Huskies dominated from the start, surging to a 36-10 lead in the first 10 minutes, and the Cyclones, now 9-4, never managed to close the gap to less than 14 for the rest of the game.

UConn sealed the win by burying 20 three-pointers—a new school record. Shade provided another offensive spark to complement the dynamic duo of Bueckers and Strong, giving the Huskies the firepower they needed to cruise to victory.

But the battle to reclaim their former dominance isn’t over yet. Up next, the Huskies face UFC, and they’ll need to keep this momentum rolling to stay on top.