Exhibition Preview: UConn vs. Southern Connecticut State

How to watch

Date: Sunday, Oct. 26

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: PeoplesBank Arena (formerly the XL Center), Hartford, CT

TV: WWAX

Stream: UConn+ (free)

Radio: UConn Sports Network (97.9 Fox Sports and affiliates)

Southern Connecticut State Owls

2024-25 Record: 19-11 (11-9 Northeast 10)

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Head coach: Kate Lynch (13th season)

Scouting the Owls

Southern Connecticut is coming off its third straight winning season after reaching the NE10 semifinals and NCAA Tournament East Regional. The Owls opened the year by winning 14 of their first 16 games but then struggled down the stretch with a 5-9 finish.

They compete in Division II, one of three schools in Connecticut at the level along with Bridgeport and Post University.

Returning leaders

Points: 11.0 — Hope Fox
Rebounds: 6.0 — Hope Fox
Assists: 3.7 — Jillian Martin
Steals: 2.2 — Hope Fox
3-point %: 35.4 — Jillian Martin

Series history

UConn has taken on SCSU twice in exhibition action recently. In 2023, Paige Buckers made her unofficial return to the court after missing the previous season with a torn ACL and finished with seven points and seven assists. Four Huskies reached double-figures, led by 18 points from Azzi Fudd.

In 2018-19, UConn played Ohio State in its regular season opener on Nov. 11 then returned to exhibition action against the Owls four days later. Amid an early-season snowstorm, the Huskies got a 26-point performance from Katie Lou Samuelson and a near triple-double from Napheesa Collier, who totaled 13 points, nine boards and nine assists.

While those games didn’t count towards the official record, UConn and SCSU have met eight times in the regular season. The Owls, who were a powerhouse program in the AIAW before they dropped to Division II, hold a 7-1 edge over the Huskies. The teams met annually between 1977-83 with all but two contests coming in New Haven.

Last time out

UConn unofficially kicked off its season with an exhibition against Boston College on Oct. 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Huskies were led by Sarah Strong (17 points, five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals), Azzi Fudd (20 points, 15 of which came in the third quarter) and Serah Williams (15 points).

By the numbers

8 — Including Sunday, UConn will play at PeoplesBank Arena eight times this season.

3 — Southern Connecticut is one of three New England-based teams the Huskies will take on this year along with Boston College and Providence.

6 — Of the 14 players on the Owls’ roster, six are from Connecticut.

9 — Nine of UConn’s 15 players are taller than SCSU’s tallest player (6-1).