Mohegan — UConn lost 1,156 career victories from the bench Sunday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena when Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma felt ill enough to sit out the Huskies’ appearance in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.

What ninth-ranked UConn gained in the matchup with Florida State, however, was perhaps just as important.

Among previously injured starters, point guard Nika Muhl (concussion protocol) played 40 minutes with 12 assists and 6-foot-5 forward Dorka Juhasz (broken left thumb) was on the floor for 35 minutes with 15 points, nine rebounds, a career-high five blocked shots and four assists.

UConn held off Florida State 85-77, leading by 23 points in the second quarter but needing to survive late after what associate coach Chris Dailey, subbing for Auriemma, called “a draining couple of weeks.”

“It was great having Dorka back and Nika, but this is kind of the story of our season,” said Dailey, now 14-0 in games where she has filled in for Auriemma.

“We got two people back yesterday and then Ines (Bettencourt, who started the last game at point guard in Muhl’s absence) sprained her ankle yesterday at practice and then today coach isn’t feeling well. It’s just something we’re used to at this point and that we just have to handle.

“I’m happy we were able to have these two (Muhl and Juhasz) back in the lineup to be able to handle it.”

UConn junior Aaliyah Edwards had 26 points and seven rebounds, setting a career high in points for the second straight game, and graduate transfer Lou Lopez Senechal had 23 points, making four 3-point field goals.

The win pushed UConn’s record to 8-2 and extended its streak of games without back-to-back losses to 1,069, dating back to 1993. The Huskies lost at then-No. 20 Maryland last Sunday minus Muhl, Juhasz and leading scorer Azzi Fudd (right knee injury).

UConn is also missing former national player of the year Paige Bueckers, out for the season after knee surgery.

Auriemma’s mother, 91-year-old Marsiella Auriemma, died Dec. 8 and the funeral was held Tuesday in Auriemma’s hometown of Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Dailey said Auriemma was feeling better and that she was certain she would hear from him following the near Florida State comeback.

“There’s emotion involved and it’s been a draining couple of weeks for us, not only last week with coach’s personal situation and the games but with the injuries we’ve had to deal with over the last three weeks,” Dailey said. “I know we’re not the only people dealing with injuries but I would challenge anyone to have to deal with all the injuries that we’ve had to deal with.

“Again, our players have been really resilient.”

UConn led 51-28 with 1 minute, 51 seconds to play in the first half after a jump shot by Aubrey Griffin, which capped an 8-0 UConn run.

With Juhasz shooting free throws, Florida State committed two straight lane violations, which gave Juhasz three chances to make the second shot. She converted to make it 47-28, followed by a technical foul on the Florida State bench which allowed Caroline Ducharme another two free throws and gave UConn the ball, leading to Griffin’s basket.

UConn led 53-35 at halftime, with 18 points from Edwards.

Florida State (11-2) outscored UConn 27-18 in the third quarter and pulled within 80-76 with 3:19 to play on a 3-pointer by Erin Howard.

Edwards responded for UConn with a driving layup coming out of a timeout, Muhl made one of two free throws to push the lead to seven and the Huskies held Florida State without a field goal for the remainder of the game.

Florida State coach Brooke Wyckoff — whose former success at Mohegan Sun came as a member of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun — said her team adjusted to the speed and strength of UConn, allowing a more competitive second half. The Seminoles got 24 points from freshman Ta’Niya Latson and 18 from Howard.

Dailey said the change in momentum was attributable both to Florida State’s adjustments and to UConn’s 20 turnovers.

“I don’t know, I feel like we could have played a much better second half,” said Muhl, who had five turnovers and was one of five Huskies with three or more fouls. “I feel like we kind of lost ourselves out there starting with me.

“I feel like I kind of lost my focus, lost control of the team, which is why our offense wasn’t working that well. But I’m very proud of my team and the way we bounced back from each play. We never gave up.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com