How a mindset shift allowed UConn to pull away for lopsided victory over Notre Dame

UConn’s first two quarters against Notre Dame followed a similar script. The Huskies jumped out to a fast start, only to fade as the period went on. They opened the game on an 8-0 run in the first three minutes, then put up the same amount of points in the final seven minutes. In the second quarter, UConn scored seven straight points early but allowed the Irish to match their total in the period, 16-16.

Out of halftime, the Huskies ran out to a 10-2 start, prompting a timeout from Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey. This time, UConn didn’t let up. It scored the next two baskets out of the break, then put up 6-0 and 7-0 runs across the rest of the quarter. The Huskies pushed their lead over 30 and eventually came out with a 38-point win — the largest margin of victory for either team in the history of the rivalry.

“We had a really good first half… But I thought the second half, they really came out dominated — offensively, defensively — pretty much did whatever they wanted,” Ivey said postgame.

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