UConn lost back-to-back games for the first time in three decades after the fourth-ranked Huskies were defeated 59-52 by Marquette on Wednesday night.
The Huskies, who were coming off an 81-77 home loss to No. 1 South Carolina three nights ago, lost back-to-back games for the first time since March 1993.
Chloe Marotta had 19 points and Jordan King added 18 for Marquette (16-8, 9-6 Big East), which beat UConn (21-4, 13-1) for the first time in 17 meetings.
Marquette had led UConn early in the fourth quarter at home last season before fading to lose 72-58.
This time, the Golden Eagles sealed the deal, holding the Huskies to their lowest point of the season.
Dorka Juhasz led UConn with 15 points. Aubrey Griffin and Lou Lopez Senechal each added 12 points.
After missing eight of its first nine shots, Marquette went on a 21-2 run in an eight-minute stretch to turn an 8-2 deficit into a 23-10 lead. The Golden Eagles never trailed again, though UConn briefly tied the game in the third quarter.
King started the momentum shift by scoring 10 straight points of his own, including a pair of 3-pointers. UConn trailed 25-15 midway through the second quarter and had 10 Marquette turnovers at that point.
UConn got back into the game on a 12-2 run of their own. Marquette held a 27-22 halftime lead despite making just one basket, a King layup, over the final 8 minutes, 18 seconds of the second quarter.
The Huskies trailed by as many as seven in the third quarter before tying the game at 31 on an Aaliyah Edwards basket with 6:10 left in the period. Marquette regained the lead 21 seconds later on a 3-pointer by Marotta and took a 39-38 lead into the final quarter.
Marquette built a lead in the final period and took a 51-44 lead on a Marotta jumper with 1:35 left. UConn made its final charge to cut the margin to 51-47 on a 3-pointer by Dorka Juhasz with 1:20 left.
After Marquette initially struggled to get the ball inside and had to call a timeout, the Golden Eagles beat the press and got the ball to Emily La Chapell for a layup with 1:15 left.
A 6-0 run began that put the game out of reach.
BIG PICTURE
UConn: Even after the Huskies dug themselves such a deep hole in the first half, UConn had reason to believe they could leave this game dominating the fourth quarter, just like they did in last season’s game at Marquette. It didn’t happen. Azzi Fudd, who scored 24 points and sparked a fourth-quarter surge in last season’s game at Marquette, has not played since injuring his right knee Jan. 15 against Georgetown.
Marquette: The Golden Eagles are on the NCAA Tournament bubble, so this game was huge for their postseason hopes. Marquette now needs to make sure it doesn’t have any disappointments the rest of the season.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE SURVEY
UConn moved up one spot in the poll after losing a close game against South Carolina. The Huskies now fall into the top five.
HISTORICAL LOSS
The Huskies had been 74-0 after losing games since losing back-to-back games in 1993 to Providence in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament and Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Mideast Regional.
UNTIL THE NEXT
UConn: Saturday at Georgetown.
Marquette: At Providence on Feb. 15.
Report from The Associated Press.
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