UConn still searching for a consistent third scorer

While Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong lead the way, the Huskies are still hoping for someone to emerge behind them.

Author

Daniel Connolly
December 19, 2024

Photo: Ian Bethune

Welcome to the UConn WBB Weekly, a recap of everything that happened in the world of UConn women’s basketball over the past week from the team that runs The UConn Blog.

Sign up to get the Weekly in your inbox every Thursday or subscribe to get our premium newsletter which includes game coverage, analysis, recruiting updates, and more!

Headlines

News

Notre Dame coverage

Georgetown coverage

Iowa State coverage

Last week’s Weekly

UConn still searching for a consistent third scorer

Through 11 games, UConn’s scoring efforts have been led almost exclusively by Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong. The pair have reached double-figures a combined 21 times, account for 11 of 12 performances of 20+ points and are responsible for 37.9 of the team’s 81.0 points per game, or 46.7 percent.

The Huskies know what to expect out of those two every single night. A consistent third scorer has been harder to come by.

“We're going to need three legitimate, big-time scorers the entire season,” Geno Auriemma said. “Where they come from, it really doesn't matter to me.”

Ashlynn Shade stepped up in the win over Iowa State with a career-high 27 points, marking the 13th time someone other than Bueckers and Strong have put up double-figures. Shade’s done it four times, Kaitlyn Chen has three such contests, Azzi Fudd and Jana El Alfy both hit the mark twice while Ice Brady and KK Arnold each have one under their belts.

Some are better candidates than others. El Alfy and Brady don’t need to score to make an impact and are too inconsistent anyways. Arnold provides enough with her defense, energy and passing that points are largely a bonus.

That leaves three: Chen, Shade and Fudd.

Chen is the most experienced scorer of the bunch after being the go-to player at Princeton over the last few seasons, averaging 15.8 points as a junior and 16.2 as a senior. At UConn, she has excelled as a distributor with a team-high 47 assists but only averages 6.8 points. Still, Chen is shooting 54.5 percent overall and 40.0 percent from three — both of which are career-bests — so perhaps she just needs to look for her own shot more often.

As for Shade, she was the Huskies’ third scorer on last year’s Final Four squad behind Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards. She started this season hot with 25 points in her first two games before cooling off and hitting rock bottom with a scoreless night at Notre Dame. Shade bounced back well since then, putting up nine points against Georgetown before exploding against Iowa State.

It’s never about ability with the sophomore, though. She just has to get out of her own way.

“Ash was a really, really, really confident high school player who thought she could make any shot, any time. The thing that — little by little — I'm hoping is that she remembers that and focuses on that and doesn't check with me every time to see if what [she] just did was okay,” Auriemma said.

“Ash is one of those that wants to please and wants your approval,” he continued. “I think once she starts to understand she just needs her approval, then — it's hard to have a night like this (against Iowa State) every night — but she can have nights where things like this happen.”

Then there’s Fudd. She’d be the most likely candidate to fill that role but she missed the first three games and the last three due to injury. In between she was spectacular, putting up 18 points against both Ole Miss and Louisville while not being overly reliant on 3-pointers. If Fudd is healthy, she can be a bonafide All-American candidate alongside Bueckers and Strong. But as recent history has shown, that’s quite a big if.

Perhaps Aubrey Griffin could emerge once she returns, too. She hasn’t played yet this season while working her way back from a torn ACL but has targeted the Jan. 1 trip to Marquette for her debut. Before the injury, Griffin was playing the best basketball of her career and looked to be the perfect third option alongside Bueckers and Edwards. She dropped 20 points in the win over Kansas and followed it up with 25 points against Louisville a few weeks later.

Griffin could be the x-factor in all of this for the Huskies.

It ultimately doesn’t have to be just a single player that emerges, though. While the coach specifically mentioned needing a third scorer, UConn would be more than happy to have additional options beyond that.

“Hopefully we'll have at least four, maybe, when Azzi gets back,” Auriemma said. “That's ideal, obviously.”

But for now, finding someone beyond Bueckers and Strong would be a good place to start.

Best of social media

Pretty good:

Pretty good, part two:

This must’ve been fun to film:

Cool shots:

A mini reunion for Kaitlyn Chen on Sunday:

Nike Has the Perfect Gift for Everyone on Your List

This holiday season, skip the guesswork and shop with confidence at Nike. Find thoughtful, stylish, and functional gifts for everyone on your list in one place.

Discover performance gear that takes athletes to the next level or iconic sneakers that make any outfit pop. Keep them cozy with fleece apparel that brings warmth and comfort to their everyday style.

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be stressful. With curated collections, seamless online browsing, and inspiration for every budget, Nike makes it effortless.

Celebrate the season with Nike and give the gift of sport to your loved ones.

Reply

or to participate.