All-American Sarah Strong, Jovana Popovic lead No. 2 UConn to season-opening 100-35 win over Cornell

Sarah Strong and Jovana Popovic led the No. 2-ranked University of Connecticut to a dominant 100-35 victory over Cornell in their season-opening game on Monday. Strong contributed 19 points, four rebounds, five assists, and eight steals, while freshman Popovic added 19 points. Their strong performance was evident in the first half, as UConn completed runs of 21-0 and 22-0, leading 46-13 at halftime.

Freshman KK Arnold finished with 11 points and four steals, while Marine Dursus and Jana El Alfy each scored 11 points, with El Alfy adding five rebounds. Cornell was outpaced, finishing with just 35 points. Cornell's Rachel Kraus led the team with eight points, while Simone Richmond and Ally Pape added seven points each. UConn's defensive prowess was on full display, as they recorded 16 steals in the first half, with Strong hitting a career-high seven.

The Huskies were shooting 61% from the field late in the first half, with eight different players finding the basket. Cornell's scoring drought in the first half continued with 12 consecutive missed shots. UConn's consistency against Ivy League opponents remains impressive, as they are 9-0 in such matchups under head coach Geno Auriemma, including four NCAA Tournament victories.

Following this win, UConn departed flowers at the office of longtime women's basketball beat writer Carl Adamec, who passed away in August after covering the Huskies throughout Auriemma's first 41 seasons at UConn. Cornell's next game is against Niagara on Thursday, while UConn faces Michigan on Thursday.