PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — The top-ranked Connecticut Huskies closed out a perfect 2025 and extended their dominant start to the season with a comprehensive 90-53 victory over the Providence Friars in a Big East Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday afternoon at Dunkin’ Center.

The Huskies, now 14-0 overall, left no doubt from the opening tip, unleashing a devastating 30-point first quarter that effectively decided the contest before many of the 5,240 in attendance had settled into their seats. The Friars, struggling to handle Connecticut’s defensive pressure and offensive firepower, managed just seven points in that opening period and never recovered, falling to 8-7.

The most important part of the game was its inception. Connecticut established immediate and overwhelming control, setting a tone of defensive suffocation and offensive efficiency from which Providence could never escape. The Huskies opened the game on a 14-0 run, fueled by three-pointers from Sarah Strong and Allie Ziebell, and forced six Friars turnovers in the first five minutes. By the time Providence’s Teneisia Brown scored the home team’s first basket on a layup with 8:47 remaining in the quarter, the Huskies had already built a double-digit lead. Connecticut’s relentless defensive activity, which produced 16 steals and forced 27 total turnovers, translated directly into offense, generating 41 points off those miscues.

Azzi Fudd led a balanced and potent Connecticut attack with 18 points and six assists. Sarah Strong added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Blanca Quinonez contributed 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. The Huskies’ interior presence was anchored by Serah Williams, who blocked five shots and altered countless others, and Jana El Alfy, who chipped in 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Connecticut shot 55 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. Their offensive rating of 116.0 on 78 possessions underscored a highly efficient performance. They dominated the paint, outscoring Providence 38-14, and shared the ball effectively with 16 assists.

Providence was led by Sabou Gueye with 12 points and Princess Moody with 11. The Friars shot 35 percent from the field and committed those 27 turnovers against the swarming Huskies defense, resulting in an offensive rating of just 69.2.

After the explosive first quarter, which ended with Connecticut leading 30-7, the Huskies maintained a comfortable margin throughout. They led 48-19 at halftime and 70-35 after three quarters, allowing head coach Geno Auriemma to utilize his deep bench extensively in the final period.

The victory was Connecticut’s third in a row by at least 37 points following a 94-47 win at Butler and a 90-64 triumph over Iowa. The Huskies continue their Big East schedule at home against Seton Hall on Saturday.

Providence, coming off a 96-55 loss at South Carolina, looks to rebound on the road at DePaul on Sunday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Connecticut entered the game with a 99.70 percent probability to win, a forecast borne out by the lopsided result on the final afternoon of the year.