UConn Opens Season With 65-Point Win Over Cornell

UConn began its season with a dominant 100-35 victory over Cornell in Hartford on November 2. Sarah Strong contributed 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and a career-best eight steals. Freshman Jovana Popovic also scored 19 points for the second-ranked Huskies, who extended their streak of season-opening wins to 31 years.

KK Arnold and Marine Dursus each added 11 points, while Jana El Alfy had nine. Dursus and sophomore Blanca Quinonez, absent from UConn’s three warm-up contests, totaled 15 points. Cornell’s leading scorer was Rachel Kraus with eight; Simone Richmond and Ally Pape each had seven.

UConn built its lead with first-half runs of 21-0 and 22-0, and went into the break ahead 46-13. The Huskies recorded 16 steals before halftime, including seven by Strong, and held Cornell to five field goals in the opening half. Strong and Popovic sat out the fourth quarter.

UConn is now 9-0 against Ivy League teams under coach Geno Auriemma. The Huskies next visit No. 5 Michigan on November 5, while Cornell is set to host Fredonia that day. UConn also placed flowers at the seat of Carl Adamec, a longtime women’s basketball writer who died in August and covered the team throughout Auriemma’s first 41 seasons.