Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong Lead No. 1 UConn to Historic Win Against No. 15 Tennessee in Rivalry Series

The two winningest programs in women's college basketball history clashed on Sunday, but it wasn't the tight battle many have grown to expect from the rivalry game.

No. 1 UConn cruised past No. 15 Tennessee 96-66, giving the Lady Vols their second-largest margin of defeat in program history and their worst loss in the history of the rivalry.

Veteran guard Azzi Fudd led the way for the Huskies, scoring 27 points and adding seven boards, seven assists and four steals. Sarah Strong also had a big outing with 26 points, nine boards, four assists and a pair of blocks.

UConn limited Tennessee star Talaysia Cooper to just eight points while forcing four turnovers. The Lady Vols had 20 turnovers total in the loss.

The final score doesn't tell the whole story of Sunday's game. Tennessee was well within striking distance heading into halftime with the score locked at 42, but UConn outscored Tennessee 54-24 in the second half.

The dominant second half included a stretch in which the Huskies went on a 14-0 run to close out the third quarter.

"We played three games. We played the first quarter, kind of sort of. We played the second quarter and then we played the second half," head coach Geno Auriemma said. "But it was pretty satisfying, pretty rewarding. I know they're really, really happy."

Auriemma surely had his squad fired up coming into the matchup as the Huskies looked to avenge last year's loss, which was also the last game they lost in general. UConn has now won 39 consecutive games, including a national championship, since losing to Tennessee last season.

With the rivalry now tied at one game apiece since Kim Caldwell took over in Knoxville, it will be interesting to see what this era of matchups brings as Auriemma enters his final years while Caldwell is just getting started.

The two historic programs will play again for the next two seasons, and Auriemma already confirmed next year's game will once again be played at UConn.