Game Analysis - Game 3 - UConn vs Loyola Chicago

[cferraro04]

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Loyola is basically a filler game. This is a game that Geno took because he had no other takers and needed to fill his schedule. UConn rarely plays a team so unevenly matched that the preseason exhibition games are more competitive. Loyola-Chicago is young, inexperienced, and undersized. Their tallest player is 6'4", but she only averages 6 minutes per game. Their next big is 6'2" Alex-Anne Bessette, who will play significant minutes as she is averaging 28 minutes per game. In this game, I predict that everyone will eat. I think that every UConn player who gets into the game will score. Loyola-Chicago has 6 sophomores and 3 freshmen. As far as upperclassmen go, they have one Graduate Student who has yet to play a single minute. They also have 1 senior and three juniors. The lack of senior leadership will show in this game. Finally, it will be a challenge for Loyola to score 40 points against the Huskies' vaunted defense. Why do a game analysis for this game? Simple, because every Division I program deserves respect, and to completely dismiss this team would be highly disrespectful.

MATCH-UPS:

Serah Williams, 6'4" - Senior Forward vs Clara Djoka, 6'0" - R-Junior Forward - Serah is still trying to get her sea legs under her with the UConn system. This game may just be the medicine Serah needs to have a breakout game. Serah needs to have a great game to boost her confidence. Clara may be tailor-made for Serah. Clara is a fairly good all-around player who averages 4.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game. Serah averages 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. I think that Serah will have her way with Clara. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Sarah Strong, 6'2" - Sophomore Forward vs Alex-Ann Bessette, 6'2" - Freshman Guard/Forward - Alex is Loyola-Chicago's most prolific scorer, averaging 10 points per game. She also chips in with 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block per game. Alex's biggest problem in this game, assuming she will be matched up with Sarah Strong, will be Sarah Strong. Sarah is a candidate for player of the year, and most certainly, she will be a first-team All-American. Sporting pundits are comparing Sarah with NBA star Nikola Jokic. Sarah currently averages 21 points, 1 three-pointer, 9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks per game. Even though I only expect Sarah to play about 20 minutes in this game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Azzi Fudd, 5'11" - Graduate Guard vs Audrey Deptula, 6'0" - Junior Guard - Audrey is Loyola-Chicago's second-best scorer, averaging 9.5 points per game. Audrey also averages 1 three-pointer, 2.5 rebounds per game. Audrey gets about 25 minutes per game, and she will more than likely get at least that many minutes in this game as well. However, Audrey will most likely be guarded by Azzi Fudd. Azzi is on a mission this year to make her last year something special. She has taken on a leadership role and is looking to have a spectacular year with regard to her individual statistics. Azzi has been having a great year so far. She is averaging a team-best 21.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. She is also hitting an average of 2.5 three-pointers per game. Even though Audrey has an inch on Azzi, I don't believe that Audrey will be able to contain Azzi. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Ashlynn Shade, 5'10" - Junior Guard vs Alexa Kinas, 5'8" - Sophomore Guard - Alexa is a good all-around basketball player. She averages 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. She logs the most minutes for Loyola-Chicago at 31 minutes per game. She has not faced a defense like she is going to see on Wednesday. Ashlynn has been somewhat struggling this year, but something tells me that Ashlynn will have a great game against Loyola and may bust out of the slump she has been in as of late. Ashlynn is averaging 3.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. Ashlynn has been shooting an abysmal 11 percent from three, so I would look for that to improve on Wednesday. ADVANTAGE - EVEN

KK Arnold, 5'9" - Junior Guard vs Kira Chivers, 5'3" - Senior Guard - Kira is their lone senior. She is averaging 4.5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. KK has been playing well this season and is quite the stat-stuffer. She is averaging 10.00 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2.5 steals with only .5 turnovers per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

BENCH:

Loyola-Chicago's entire bench averages 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. UConn has a very deep bench, and they will see a lot of action in this game. UConn's bench is averaging 31 points and 18 rebounds per game. As I said earlier, everybody will eat in this game, and the bench will be the recipients of much of that feasting. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

COACHING:

UConn's coaching will not be challenged in this game. Geno and his coaching staff have been tested in the fires of very stiff competition. Loyola-Chicago will not pose any threat to UConn's veteran coaching staff. ADVANTAGE - UCONN

INTANGIBLES:

This game will be played at Gampel Pavilion, and there is nothing like playing at home in front of the Husky fanbase. Talent, experience, size, coaching, and players itching to establish themselves and to solidify playing time all amount to a huge...
ADVANTAGE - UCONN

Score:

UConn - 107
Loyola-Chicago - 39
MOV - 68

 

[Dogdude]

Yeah, what else can you say? I'm glad you made the comment about deserving respect; regardless of skill level, the kids are still putting in the work to do their best. It's still a huge commitment of time and effort. I do hope this is the sort of game where Serah and Ash can get their offensive legs under them: they're certainly working hard, it's time to reap some rewards. As for the bench, let them have more combined minutes than our star starters if all is going well.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I just saw something I have never seen this time of year out of Massey. Loyola 41 UConn 84.

@Zarathustra What I mean is for years Massey has been wildly inacurrate on margin of victory on the low side up to midDecember, like it has imposed an artificial constraint on its model. So this prediction came as a shock.

 

[Charliebball]

I'd love to see Geno sit the starters and let the bench players take most of the minutes........there's zero reason to risk any injuries against opponents like this.....

 

[Zarathustra]

I'd love to see Geno sit the starters and let the bench players take most of the minutes........there's zero reason to risk any injuries against opponents like this.....

With Ohio State University coming up on Sunday.... I believe that
Geno will use this game as he has done in the previous games... A workout for
the primary rotation and then A LOT of minutes for the "extended
bench" (and probably some extra time for some of the regulars. This is a great opportunity for both Ash and Serah to get grounded. Go Huskies!

 

[HuskyNan]

Loyola is basically a filler game. This is a game that Geno took because he had no other takers and needed to fill his schedule.

Loyola head coach Allison Guth coached Yale for 7 years and is probably a friend of Geno. She probably wants her team to see what’s required to become elite and that speaks well of her

Allison Guth - Women's Basketball Coach - Loyola University Chicago Athletics

Allison Guth is in her fourth season at the helm of the Ramblers in 2025-26. She became the program's 10th head coach after returning in 2022 to Rogers Park having

loyolaramblers.com

 

[Boreifs]

Loyola head coach Allison Guth coached Yale for 7 years and is probably a friend of Geno. She probably wants her team to see what’s required to become elite and that speaks well of her

Allison Guth - Women's Basketball Coach - Loyola University Chicago Athletics

Allison Guth is in her fourth season at the helm of the Ramblers in 2025-26. She became the program's 10th head coach after returning in 2022 to Rogers Park having

loyolaramblers.com

Allison and my daughter were on the same travel team many years ago. She was a fierce competitor, even at a young age. Her high school team won a state championship when she was a Senior.

 

[HopJim]

Have agreed with all of the posters suggesting patience for Williams, if she can't assert herself in this game I will start to worry.

 

[HopJim]

Allison and my daughter were on the same travel team many years ago. She was a fierce competitor, even at a young age. Her high school team won a state championship when she was a Senior.

Perhaps one of the factors in her future success is the support of the school and administration. In all of the web site pictures, the Loyola Chicago gym is empty. Difficult to recruit in this environment.

 

[HuskyNan]

Perhaps one of the factors in her future success is the support of the school and administration. In all of the web site pictures, the Loyola Chicago gym is empty. Difficult to recruit in this environment.

Playing teams like UConn will bring them visibility and if this a home & home (any recruits in Chicago?), Husky fans would pack their arena

 

[bkart1978]

I can’t agree that Ashlyn’s match is even. So little of what I expect from Ashlyn is her scoring - the kid is relentless, an excellent defender and rebounder, and the ideal team player. No doubt everyone wants her shooting percentages up, but she’s not failing to have an impact out there in the meantime.

 

[Tonyc]

Everybody will play in this game and the non starters will get significant minutes. It will be a huge blowout. Im hoping to see confidence grow. Shade Ice Jana Williams Yana all shine. It will be interesting to see Allie and Caroline and their improvement in this game. I just hope we execute and use poise as a game like this can just be a run and gun pavement game. It is very important for UConn to work on their execution as we have Ohio St Michigan and Utah coming up. In a game like this where we over match our opponent by alot it is important not to let things get away from us. With that said this is also a game where Ice Allie Shade Ice Jana Williams and Caroline could bring their confidence to a higher level. Dont be surprised if our starters dont seen alot of minutes.

 

[Bone Dog]

I have to wonder how many of Loyola’s players will be held scoreless in the first half. Azzi KK Ash and K9 have been on a defensive mission so far this season. So have Sarah Serah and Jana.

 

[Blond D.]

Morgan and her boot might get some minutes in THIS game.