Sarah Strong’s UConn debut went as well as expected, with head coach Geno Auriemma’s call vindicated in the Huskies’ 54-point win over Boston University.
While Paige Bueckers garnered the eyes of most women’s college basketball fans, it was Strong’s performance in her first game as a member of the Huskies that was eye-catching. In 25 minutes of action, the freshman forward scored 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field to go along with six steals, four rebounds and three assists.
That kind of production was expected from Strong, considering how highly sought after the forward was coming out of high school. After the game, the young star explained how playing in front of a home crowd and being around a talented group helped her in her first college basketball game.
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“I feel great,” Strong told SNY’s Chelsea Sherrod after UConn’s 86-32 win over Boston University. “The environment made it better, made it a lot easier and being able to play with my teammates also made it easier.”
Additionally, the freshman explained what it meant to play with Bueckers, especially with the star guard poised to be a top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. For the night, Bueckers finished with 13 points, seven assists, five steals, four rebounds and one block in 24 minutes.
“It means a lot,” Strong continued. “She makes people better, so just having her make those great passes or making a good pass makes it easier again.”
Geno Auriemma’s recruitment of Sarah Strong paid dividends against Boston University (
Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
Auriemma also talked about how he was impressed with how Strong played, despite it being her first game. The legendary head coach also saw a more confident Strong on Thursday against Boston University than he had seen during preseason.
“The big thing about Sarah is that she’s going to score her points because she’s a natural scorer,” Auriemma began. “But the things she makes happen for the entire team, whether it’s a great pass she’ll make or a couple of the steals she’s got that you saw.
“She’s just an impactful player and I like when she’s aggressive like she was today and I think today’s about, hopefully, the start of what we’re going to expect to see in every game.”
The 70-year-old’s comments come after he spoke highly of Strong during the offseason. When asked about his new star forward, Auriemma raved about her ability and likened her to UConn legend Kerry Bascom, one of his first recruits when he first arrived at the university.
“You need players that are exceptionally confident,” Auriemma said in June, per Connecticut Insider. “You can’t come play here if you think you’re good, right? That’s not gonna work. I think the best players are the ones that go, ‘Coach, I can fill any position you want me to play. Just put me in that spot, put me on the court, and I’ll figure it out. And she’s that kind of kid. I can put her anywhere.”
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