UConn Women's Basketball Looks to Improve Rebounding Against Marquette

Coach Geno Auriemma wants his undefeated team to focus on crashing the boards ahead of Saturday's matchup.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The top-ranked UConn women's basketball team is 26-0 on the season, but head coach Geno Auriemma sees room for improvement, particularly on the boards. Despite dominating in most statistical categories, the Huskies rank just 50th in rebounding margin. Auriemma wants his team to be more aggressive in crashing the glass, especially on the offensive end, as they prepare to face Marquette on Saturday.

Why it matters

Rebounding has become a point of emphasis for Auriemma as his team enters the final stretch of the regular season. While UConn is one of the most dominant teams in the country, their relative weakness on the boards could be an area opponents try to exploit come tournament time. Improving their rebounding will be crucial for the Huskies to maintain their undefeated record and make a deep postseason run.

The details

In their recent win over Creighton, the Huskies were outrebounded 20-15 in the first half, with just a single offensive board. Auriemma stressed that his team needs to do a better job of crashing the glass, especially on the offensive end, to create second-chance opportunities. He believes his players don't need special talent to be effective offensive rebounders, just the effort to pursue the ball when shots go up.

  • The UConn women's basketball team is 26-0 on the season with 5 games left in the regular season.
  • UConn defeated Creighton 94-44 on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, who has led the Huskies to 11 national championships.

Sarah Strong

A sophomore forward for UConn who scored 12 of the team's first 19 points against Creighton.

Azzi Fudd

The star guard for the UConn women's basketball team.

Blanca Quinonez

A freshman forward for UConn who has missed the last 5 games due to a shoulder injury but could return on Saturday against Marquette.

Allie Ziebell

A sophomore guard for UConn who has stepped up in Quinonez's absence, scoring in double digits 5 times in the last 6 games.

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What they’re saying

“We make so many shots. But when the shots are not going in, the ones that don't go in, I want us to get better at getting some of those back.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach (courant.com)

“If she doesn't run back on defense, that sucker is going to the bench forever when Blanca comes back.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach (courant.com)

What’s next

Freshman forward Blanca Quinonez could make her return to the court on Saturday when UConn faces Marquette. Her presence will bolster the Huskies in multiple areas, including rebounding.

The takeaway

Rebounding has emerged as a rare weakness for the dominant UConn women's basketball team, and improving their effort on the boards will be crucial as they look to maintain their undefeated record and make a deep postseason run. Coach Geno Auriemma is emphasizing this area of improvement with his team as they prepare to face Marquette.