KK Arnold Stats Last Night: How did UConn star fare vs Ole Miss (Nov 27)

Sophomore guard KK Arnold had a modest contribution off the bench. Yet, it was significant for No. 2 UConn’s dominant 73-60 victory over No. 18 Ole Miss to win the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Women’s Championship on Wednesday night.

The 5-foot-9 guard logged two points, two rebounds, and two assists in 16 minutes, connecting on one of her three shot attempts. Despite committing one foul, Arnold was essential to the eight-player rotation that helped secure the championship.

Before the game, KK Arnold anticipated a defensive battle. Both teams averaged over 12 steals per game and were ranked No. 5 (UConn) and No. 6 (Ole Miss) nationally in scoring defense, each allowing fewer than 47 points per game.

“They’re very aggressive, so we have to make sure we go in with an open mind,” Arnold said ahead of the matchup.

“If they throw a punch, we have to know how to attack as well and throw the punch right back at them. That’s the main thing... they’re going to be aggressive, so (it’s) just being strong with the ball and things like that,” she added.

Arnold’s lone basket came from a layup that extended UConn’s lead to 27-13 in the second quarter. Despite her low scoring, KK Arnold's intelligent offensive decision-making proved critical, as she leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 8.5.

KK Arnold and UConn Huskies Stay Undefeated

The Huskies overcame a second-half surge from Ole Miss, which included a 15-0 run, to clinch the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops title behind standout performances from Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. Despite the Rebels’s push, led by KK Deans’ 17 points, UConn never trailed in the contest.

Despite their third-quarter struggles, the Huskies shot an impressive 58.5% from the field and maintained a 30-point advantage in the paint. Notably, UConn improved its shooting percentage in the second half compared to the first.

As a team, UConn committed a season-high 18 turnovers but won the rebounding battle 37-30 and outscored Ole Miss 48-18 in the paint.

With the win, No. 2 UConn secured the championship trophy in the Bahamas and extended its undefeated start to the season. KK Arnold and the Huskies return home to face Holy Cross on Dec. 3, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. ET at Gampel Pavilion and will end the week with a trip to New York to play No. 24 Louisville in a Women's Champions Classic matchup on Dec. 7.