UConn women’s basketball closed out 2025 with a sloppy 90-53 victory over the Providence Friars at Amica Mutual Pavilion on New Year’s Eve.
The Huskies were without starting point guard KK Arnold, who suffered a nasal fracture in practice on Tuesday and didn’t play. Without the floor general, they committed a season-high 21 turnovers and struggled to get the offense into rhythm at times.
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Allie Ziebell made her first career start in place of Arnold and finished with nine points. Azzi Fudd led the team with 18 points and six assists while Sarah Strong totaled 17 points and seven rebounds, though she had five turnovers as well. Blanca Quiñonez put up 11 points — her fifth straight game in double-figures — and added four assists and four rebounds as well while Jana El Alfy reached double-figures for the second time this season with 10 points.
UConn led by 23 after the first quarter but only extended its lead by 14 over the final 30 minutes.
Strong got the Huskies going early with back-to-back 3-pointers to open the contest and four triples in the opening quarter. UConn fell behind 9-7 before ripping off a 21-0 run to close the period. Providence opened the second with five straight points, then the Huskies responded with 11 consecutive points. The Friars ended the drought with a 3-pointer before UConn held them without a basket for the final 4:49 of the half. The Huskies took a 29-point lead into the locker room.
The runs continued in the third quarter. Providence scored the first four points, only for UConn to put up 16 of the next 19. The Huskies cruised the rest of the way en route to a 37-point victory.
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Ayanna Patterson also missed the contest with a concussion that she suffered in practice on Tuesday. Caroline Ducharme (shoulder), Ice Brady (knee inflammation) and Morgan Cheli (foot/ankle) remained out as well.
With the win, UConn improves to 14-0 on the season and 5-0 in Big East play. Next, the Huskies will return home for their first game of 2026 against Seton Hall. Tip-off is set for noon on Saturday at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford.
