26 Iowa turnovers lead to 41 UConn points, and the No. 1 Huskies roll, 90-64

Note: This report was written in Cedar Rapids.

It was Sarah Strong early. Azzi Fudd caught fire later on.

Damaging turnovers, though ... those riddled the Iowa Hawkeyes all game.

Fudd scored 27 points, Strong added 23 and top-ranked Connecticut turned 26 Iowa turnovers into 41 points and rattled No. 11 Iowa, 90-64, in a women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The reigning national-champion Huskies (12-0) won their 28th consecutive game.

Strong scored 20 first-half points, helping UConn to a 42-31 halftime lead. The Huskies busted it open with an 11-2 run to start the second half and led by as many as 31 points.

Fudd scored 21 points after intermission.

UConn’s stars did star things, and the Hawkeyes (10-2) couldn’t stand up against the Huskies’ pressure. Seventeen of Iowa’s turnovers came directly from UConn steals, leading to a layup convention at times.

Iowa shot well enough (25 of 51, 49 percent) and more than held its own on the glass, outrebounding UConn by a 34-25 margin.

But the 41-9 margin in points off turnovers, that was the game. And then some.

Hannah Stuelke led the Hawkeyes with 17 points. Chit-Chat Wright added 16, Taylor Stremlow 11.

Wright nailed four 3-point shots, Stremlow three.

UConn led from the opening tip. The Huskies led 22-8 late in the first quarter, stretched it to 15 midway through the second.

Iowa resumes Big Ten action Dec. 28 at home against Penn State. The Hawkeyes are 1-0 in league action.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com