The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team continues to dominate on the court, with senior players Crystal Dangerfield, Molly Bent, and Christyn Williams leading the charge. But it was the duo of Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Megan Walker that ultimately secured another win for the Huskies, as they defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 84-74 on Monday night.
Nelson-Ododa, a 6-foot-5 center, dominated the paint with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, while Walker, a 6-foot-1 forward, added 22 points and 10 rebounds of her own. But it was the play of freshman guard Anna Makurat that caught everyone’s attention.
Makurat, who hails from Poland, was a key contributor on both ends of the court, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. The freshman also drew the task of guarding DePaul’s leading scorer, Chante Stonewall, and held her to just 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting.
But Makurat wasn’t the only freshman making an impact for the Huskies. Guard Aubrey Griffin, who had missed the previous three games due to an ankle injury, made her return to the court and chipped in with six points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
The game was also a showcase for UConn’s coaching staff, with associate head coach Chris Dailey taking over as head coach while Geno Auriemma was in California for the funeral of Kobe Bryant. Dailey, who has been with Auriemma for over three decades, showed her ability to lead a team to victory once again.
The Huskies will look to continue their winning ways in their next game against the Temple Owls on February 6th. With veterans like Dangerfield and Williams leading the way, and newcomers like Makurat and Griffin making their mark, UConn looks poised for another deep run in the NCAA tournament.