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STORRS, Conn. — Felisha Legette-Jack knows the task at hand. Everyone in her locker room does. Legette-Jack confronted this unfortunate fate four times in the past eight years. No challenge in the women’s basketball world quite compares to a game against UConn at Gampel Pavilion. Especially in March.

But alas, Syracuse earned the right to that situation. After beating No. 8 seed Iowa State in the first round Saturday, the Orange are rewarded with the biggest test in collegiate basketball — taking on UConn. The undefeated Huskies haven’t lost since February of 2025. They’ve won all but two games this season by 20 or more points. Both of those games were in November.

There isn’t a word that can describe how dominant UConn has been this season, or really over the past decade. That’s why Legette-Jack joked she’s tired of seeing them every time she makes the NCAA Tournament. But the Huskies are here to stay. As long as they are, Syracuse will have to go through them.

Here’s everything to know about No. 1 seed UConn (35-0, 20-0 Big East) before its NCAA Tournament Second Round clash with No. 9 seed Syracuse (24-8, 12-6 Atlantic Coast):

All-time series

UConn leads 39-4.

Last time they played

The last time Syracuse made March Madness, its path was nearly identical to this season’s route. The Orange traveled to Storrs as a No. 6 seed and beat Arizona in the first round to set up a second round matchup with UConn.

While the Huskies were an unusually-low No. 3 seed that season, they still handled the Orange 72-64. SU trailed by just two points at the end of the first quarter and outscored UConn 36-33 in the second half, but a nine-point second-quarter disparity ultimately paved the way for a season-ending loss.

Future WNBA No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers exploded for 32 points for the Huskies, comfortably leading all scorers. Dyaisha Fair dropped 20 points for SU and Georgia Woolley added 18. In her first start of her collegiate career, Sophie Burrows nailed six 3s, finishing with a then-career-high 18 points as well. She’s the only SU player that played in the 2024 postseason that’ll be on the court Monday.

The Huskies Report

Since the last time his team hosted the Orange, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said Sunday that both squads’ systems are primarily the same. But the rosters look nearly unrecognizable.

For UConn, that’s because it’s improved. After Bueckers departed this past offseason, Auriemma’s Huskies have enjoyed the contributions of two more top recruits in Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong. Fudd averages 17.4 points a game and shoots 44% from 3. Strong — who was named ESPN’s Player of the Year — averages 18.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game on 60% shooting.

While those two carry most of the weight, the supporting cast is equally impressive. Six other players average at least seven points a game, contributing to the nation’s second-highest scoring offense with 88.8 points scored per game.

Things don’t get any easier on the other end, either. UConn is holding opponents to just 50.4 points per game this year, the lowest mark in the country. That comfortably makes the Huskies the best team in the country by average margin of victory. And they have the record to show for it.

UConn’s bench celebrates a basket in the Huskies’ NCAA Tournament First Round win over UTSA Friday. The Huskies haven’t lost a game in over a year and have beaten all but two opponents by 20 or more points this season. Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor

How Syracuse beats UConn

Not to be pessimistic, but one of the only things Syracuse can do Monday night is pray. That’s not a knock on the Orange as much as it is a praise to the Huskies. They’re just that good.

On a serious note, Syracuse’s only real chance of beating UConn would be a back-breaking early run. The nation’s top-ranked team got off to a relatively slow start from the field in its opening matchup against UTSA Saturday, although it ultimately recovered and dominated the middle two quarters. If Syracuse can come out hot Monday and snag a 10-point lead in the opening quarter, it may be enough to protect for most of the game. But even that isn’t much of a guarantee.

Another key will be limiting turnovers. UConn’s ball pressure is second to none. It speeds up guards in the half court and forces turnovers, which often turn into easy buckets on the fast break. Syracuse’s primary ball handler, Dominique Darius, is out for the season with a hand injury, which makes that a cause for concern. But her replacements, Olivia Schmitt and Maddy Potts, did well to limit slip-ups against Iowa State.

That — and a bit of magic — is what it’ll take to give the Orange a shot at an evasive win in Storrs.

Stat to know: 50.4

No number better personifies UConn’s aforementioned defensive dominance like 50.4 — the average points it allows per game. The Huskies routinely destroy even the nation’s best offenses. They held Notre Dame to 47 points. USC to 51. Iowa to 64. Michigan to 69.

The Huskies are also top 10 in turnovers forced per game (24.6), opponent field goals made per game (18.0) and opponent field goal percentage (33.5%). They’re also top 25 in steals (6.1), total rebounds (31.4) and defensive rebounds (21.4) per game.

No need to bore you with any more numbers. It’s evident the Husky defense is virtually indestructible. Pair that with the nation’s second-highest scoring offense, and you have a problem.

Player to watch: Sarah Strong, forward, No. 21

UConn is a factory. A cloning facility. A Frankenstein-esque laboratory. Whenever it loses a star, it regenerates another. At times, better than the last.

Strong looks like the Huskies’ next superstar. As a sophomore, she’s already a Naismith National Player of the Year frontrunner and ESPN’s pick for the award. Her 18.4 points per game on absurd efficiency helped lead the Huskies all year long.

It’s hard to share the floor with a player like Fudd and actually overshadow her. While they’ve complemented each other well, there have been times Strong has done just that. How the duo orchestrates one of the nation’s best offenses and defenses will be what to watch for Monday.

Strong will likely be UConn’s counter for budding superstar Uche Izoje, who’s averaging 21 points per game over her last five contests. Locking her up will be key to sending Syracuse home on Sunday.

Published on March 22, 2026 at 11:51 pm
Contact Harris: harrispemberton@gmail.com | @HarrisPemb6