No. 1 UConn powers past No. 11 Iowa in Women’s Champions Classic

NEW YORK – Azzi Fudd scored 27 points and Sarah Strong added 23 to help No. 1 UConn beat 11th-ranked Iowa 90-64 Saturday in the Women’s Champions Classic.

Strong also had seven rebounds and six steals for the Huskies (12-0), who remained undefeated this season heading into the break.

Strong, the sensational sophomore, dominated the first half with 20 points and five steals as UConn led 42-31.

UConn led 22-12 after one quarter before Iowa managed to get within six in the second. Strong didn’t let the Hawkeyes get any closer as she scored seven points, including the first five, in a 10-2 run that gave the Huskies a 35-20 advantage midway through the quarter. On one play, Strong got a steal, then drove down the court for a layin.

Iowa couldn’t get closer than nine points the rest of the game, with Fudd scoring 21 of his 27 points in the second half. UConn scored the first six points of the third quarter to put the game away.

The Huskies have beaten four ranked teams this season, with wins over No. 5 Michigan, No. 16 Louisville and No. 19 Southern California. UConn has two ranked games left on its schedule after the new year — home matchups against No. 17 Tennessee and 20th-ranked Notre Dame.

Hannah Stuelke scored 17 points and Chazadi Wright added 16 for the Hawkeyes (10-2), who have lost two of their last three games. The other loss came to rival No. 10 Iowa State.

No. 16 Louisville beat 17th-ranked Tennessee 89-65 in the first game of the doubleheader.

Iowa will next host Penn State on December 28. UConn visits Butler that afternoon.