HARTFORD, CT — Sarah Strong had 24 points, including 19 in the first half, to help No. 1 ranked UConn women’s basketball team beat St. John’s, 88-43, in Big East play on Wednesday at PeoplesBank Arena.
The sophomore phenom added team-best six steals and the Huskies totaled 23 for the game.
‘She has a knack that she has to put her hands, you know, get a piece of the ball every time she reaches for it,’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Strong. ‘You know, there’s some kids reach, and they come in, either come out with air, or they come out with a foul, you know, she manages to get her hands on the ball.’
The Huskies, who have won 54 straight conference games, took a 20-2 lead less than five minutes into the game and never looked back. UConn (16-0, 7-0 Big East) continued their smothering defense with 46 points off of turnovers.
‘I thought our energy was incredible, and I thought we were flying to the ball and covered for each other really, really well,’ Auriemma said. ‘The best that I think I’ve seen so far this year.’
Azzi Fudd added 16 points and freshman Blanca Quiñonez had 14. KK Arnold stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, six steals and four assists.
St. John’s (13-4, 3-3) had 14 points from Beautiful Waheed.
Third quarter: UConn 72, St. John’s 32
The Huskies are shooting 60% from the floor and have taken a 40-point lead. UConn has 19 assists and 19 steals and has scored 40 points off 28 St. John’s turnovers.
Sarah Strong has 24 points on 11 of 15 shooting.
Sa’Mya Wyatt and Beautiful Waheed have nine points each for St. John’s.
Three UConn players in double figures
Sarah Strong has 19 points, Azzi Fudd 16 and KK Arnold 11 as the Huskies continue to make easy work of St. John’s.
Halftime: UConn 50, St John’s 22
Sarah Strong has 19 points, five steals and three assists as the Huskies are dominating the Red Storm. KK Arnold, in her second game back after breaking her nose in practice eight days ago, has 9 points, 5 steals and 4 assists.
Sa’Mya Wyatt and Beautiful Waheed have six points each for St. John’s.
Sarah Strong is going off
The sophomore player of the year candidate just hit her first 3 of the contest. She has 19 points.
First quarter: UConn 28, St. John’s 9
The Huskies jumped out to a 20-2 with 5:29 left in the first quarter. UConn has 22 points in the paint, 18 points off turnovers and 14 points in the paint. KK Arnold has seven points and five steals in the early going.
We are underway in Hartford
Sarah Strong converts a layup after a steal to getting the scoring started. And, just like that, UConn is up 8-0.
What time is UConn vs St. John’s women’s basketball?
The UConn Huskies host the St. John’s Red Storm on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m. ET at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut.
UConn vs St. John’s: TV, streaming
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT)
Location: PeoplesBank Arena (Hartford, Connecticut)
TV: TruTV
Stream: Fubo
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