STORRS, Conn. -- UConn sophomore guard Caroline Ducharme came up clutch in her first game back following a 13-game absence due to a concussion, scoring all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter, included the game-winning free throws, to help the Huskies rally from down 11 and beat Big East Conference foe Creighton 62-60 Wednesday night at Gampel Pavilion.
"She's just one tough individual," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said. "When the pressure's on and when it's most important, she finds a way to make a play."
Ducharme, who propelled the Huskies in large stretches last season as they dealt with injuries, appeared in 12 games this season before suffering a concussion in practice on Jan. 2. She also dealt with neck stiffness earlier in the season and a head injury late in her freshman year.
Before the concussion, Ducharme averaged 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25.2 minutes per game this season.
This was the first week in which Ducharme was a full-go in practice, according to Auriemma; she had previously participated in a no-contact capacity.
Ducharme said her recovery has been up and down, and despite being cleared to play, she is still dealing with residual symptoms that require management. But after getting knocked down on a drive to the hoop in the first half, Ducharme collected herself on the sideline and realized she was fine.
"Nobody wants to play more than Caroline," Auriemma said. "It was killing her to have to sit out, especially watching what was going on, what was taking place. So she worked really, really hard to get back."
The Huskies have dealt with several major injuries this year. Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall 2021 recruit, has played just nine games due to a knee injury that she later aggravated; there is no timetable for her return. Paige Bueckers, the 2020-21 national player of the year, and freshman Ice Brady are both out for the season. UConn has had just seven or eight players available throughout long stretches of the season.
Ducharme checked into the game Wednesday with 1:43 left in the first quarter to a standing ovation from Huskies fans and played just under her minutes restriction of 20.
The guard from Massachusetts went 0-for-6 from the field through the first three quarters, and with the Huskies struggling to hit shots, Creighton pulled ahead off a 19-1 run. It extended its lead to as many as 11 early in the fourth.
Ducharme's 3 at the 8:02 mark cut the deficit to five points. She looked confident driving to the basket through contact despite her injury history, as she later hit a layup and converted an and-1 before hitting the go-ahead free throws with 4.8 seconds to play.
"Going through the game, I think we all knew that we needed to all step up and hit shots," Ducharme said. "So I think that's all that was really on my mind was we needed some offense."
"For her to come out and do that today, she's just one tough kid, man," Auriemma said. "That's the best way I can describe it."
The No. 6 Huskies next travel to No. 14 Villanova where they face Big East player of the year favorite Maddy Siegrist. After losing to Marquette last week, they are trying to avoid dropping multiple conference games, something they last did in 2012-2013.