HARTFORD – Butler opened BIG EAST action with an 88-62 setback at #17 UConn on Monday night. The Huskies improved to 8-3 on the year with the victory while BU moved to 7-4.  
 
The contest opened with each team burying a 3-pointer and that trend would continue over the first 10 minutes of action. Nika Muhl hit her first shot of the night in front of the BU bench, but the Bulldogs didn't blink as Rachel Kent tied the game on the next possession with her first 3-point attempt.
 
Butler continued to feed the hot hand and Kent would have nine points before the first media timeout giving BU an 11-9 lead. The Bulldogs shot 83 percent from distance (5-6) and would own a 21-20 lead over UConn after the first quarter.
 
Kent and Karsyn Norman each hit a 3-pointer for BU in the opening stages of the second quarter which led to UConn calling an early timeout (7:46). The Huskies message was clear in the huddle as they attempted to take away Butler's looks from 3-point range.
 
UConn also found their rhythm on the offensive end which led to a 19-4 scoring run. The Huskies hit their final eight shots of the second quarter to claim a 45-34 lead at the half. Kent led all players with 13 points and each team shot over 50 percent from the field.
 
The Huskies opened the second half on an 11-4 scoring run to increase their lead. BU added 3-pointers from Sydney Jaynes and Jordan Meulemans to get back within 12 points (56-44), but an 8-0 Husky run would move the score to 64-44 heading to the fourth.
 
Butler's freshmen trio got some quality minutes at the XL Center in the fourth. Those three combined for 13 of BU's 18 points over the final 10 minutes with Caroline Strande adding the other five.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Tonight was the first time BU has played UConn at the XL Center
- Butler led UConn 21-20 after the first quarter
- The Bulldogs shot 63% from 3-point range (10-16)
- BU had 19 assists on 25 made field goals
- Rachel Kent went 4-for-5 from 3-point range to score 13 points
-Caroline Strande had 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals
- Karsyn Norman came off the bench to score 10 points
- Riley Makalusky made all three of her shots to score seven points
- BU is 0-6 all-time vs. UConn
- The Bulldogs are 1-10 all-time in BIG EAST openers
- Ashlynn Shade led all players with 22 points
- Paige Bueckers had 16 points and seven assists
- UConn has won four-straight games
- The Huskies are 5-0 at home
 
Up Next
Butler's final non-conference game will fall on Thursday, Dec. 21 when the Bulldogs host the Ohio Bobcats at 1 PM. Fans can watch the action on the Butler Athletics YouTube channel.