HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Azzi Fudd had 18 of her 23 points in the first half as No. 7 UConn rolled to an 81-27 win over Xavier on Wednesday night.
Sarah Strong added 15 points — all in the first half — with seven rebounds and five steals for UConn (14-2, 5-0 Big East). UConn played without leading scorer Paige Bueckers. Bueckers suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s win over Villanova. There is n o timetable for her return but UConn coach Geno Auriemma thought there was a chance Bueckers could return next week.
Allie Ziebell had 15 of her 17 points in the second half for the Huskies.
Irune Orio led Xavier (5-10, 0-4) with 10 points.
The Musketeers, who didn't score their 10th point until 26 seconds were left in the first half, lost their 45th straight Big East game. Xavier trailed 43-10 at that point.
Xavier: The Musketeers falls to 0-9 against UConn. In the eight Big East matchups against UConn, the Musketeers have lost by at least 36 points seven times.
UConn: Fudd had her season-high in points in the first game without Bueckers. Fudd's previous season-high was 18 points in wins over ranked Ole Miss and Louisville teams.
UConn was already in command with a nine-point lead before Strong had eight points and Fudd five during a 15-0 run to put the Huskies up 30-6.
UConn outscored Xavier 36-4 in points off the turnovers through the first three quarters. The Huskies had more steals than Xavier had points in the first half.
The Musketeers play at home against St. John's on Saturday.. UConn plays at Georgetown on Saturday.
UConn guard Kaitlyn Chen, left, talks with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, right, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
TORONTO (AP) — Josh Lowe had a homer among his three hits in his first game since getting injured on opening day, Brandon Lowe homered twice and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 Thursday.
Josh Lowe, recovered from an oblique strain, scored on Brandon Lowe's sixth and seventh homers of the season and hit his first of the season in the fifth inning. Brandon Lowe finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs.
Kameron Misner hit his fourth homer. José Caballero had two hits, as did Danny Jansen, including an RBI single against his former team.
Zack Littell (3-5) worked 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. The Rays have won Littell's last four starts, a span in which he has posted a 3.23 ERA over 25 1/3 innings.
Kevin Gausman (3-4) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on 10 hits, including three homers. The 34-year-old right-hander didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
Addison Barger hit his second homer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added his fifth and Nathan Lukes his third, all off Littell. Bo Bichette had three hits.
Josh Lowe was activated after Travis Jankowski was put on the injury list with a groin strain.
After Lukes homered and Bichette doubled, Manuel Rodríguez came on in relief with one out in the eighth and the Rays leading 6-3. He walked Guerrero before getting the final two outs, the last on George Springer's deep fly ball to center.
The Blue Jays played with the Rogers Centre roof open for the first time this season.
The Rays' Taj Bradley (3-2, 4.24 ERA) pitches against Miami's Max Meyer (2-4, 4.37), and Toronto's Bowden Francis (2-5, 5.40) faces Detroit's Jack Flaherty (1-5, 4.61) on Friday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe (8) hits a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Josh Lowe (15) celebrates his solo home run with teammate Brandon Lowe (8) during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe, center, is greeted in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
