The UConn women's basketball team played without coach Geno Auriemma for the second consecutive game Thursday but won 73-37 against Xavier in Cincinnati.
However, junior standout Aaliyah Edwards injured her ankle when she crashed into the courtside seats while chasing a loose ball. She didn't play in the second half.
"She tweaked her ankle a little bit when she went over and made that hustle play into the chairs," UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey said. "It just wasn't in the cards for her to play the second half. We were up by a lot. So hopefully it's just a little bit of a tweak, and we'll know more tomorrow."
Dailey moved to 17-0 in games in which she has filled in as head coach for Auriemma, who missed his fourth game this season due to illness. He also sat out Tuesday's victory against the Butler Bulldogs, although he traveled to Indianapolis with the team.
Auriemma missed games against Florida State and Seton Hall on Dec. 18 and 21 but returned against Creighton and Marquette on Dec. 28 and 31. Auriemma, whose mother died in December, admitted in a statement Thursday morning, "It's been an extremely difficult month for me, and I've been feeling under the weather and run down.
"I thought I was ready to return, but I need a little more time," he said in the statement. "I'm going to take a step back to focus on my health and will return when I feel ready."
Edwards' injury is the latest in a series of injuries and illnesses the No. 5 Huskies have dealt with this season. She is one of three Huskies who have appeared in every game thus far and came into Thursday averaging 17.4 points and 9.8 rebounds. She had four points and five rebounds in 14 minutes against Xavier. Dorka Juhasz had 18 points and 17 rebounds for UConn, 13-2 overall and 6-0 in the Big East.
"Obviously, we miss him a lot but I think we're in great hands," Juhasz said of Auriemma's absence. "Hopefully, we can have everybody back as soon as possible."
Sophomore guard Caroline Ducharme missed her second consecutive game Thursday as she is in concussion protocol after being injured Monday in practice. Star guard Paige Bueckers is out all season with a knee injury. Guard Azzi Fudd is still out with a knee injury suffered Dec. 4, although she recently returned to basketball activities and might be in the lineup soon.
Juhasz missed seven games with a broken thumb. Fellow forward Aubrey Griffin was out two games after testing positive for COVID-19, although she returned Tuesday against Butler, scoring 15 points. Thursday, Griffin had 19 points and nine rebounds.
The Huskies next play Sunday at home against DePaul.
"We've tried the sage burning, we've tried holy water, we've tried a lot of things. None of them have really seemed to work," Dailey said of the Huskies trying to snap their streak of bad luck with injuries and illness. "But it's just something we have to deal with. We're not the only team that has to deal with it. Whatever we have and whoever we have, we have enough.
"We hope Aaliyah's ready [Sunday] ... we just have to go with what we've got."