STORRS — There was a different look in Sarah Strong’s eyes.
Three days ago, UConn was upset by Michigan in a game in which Strong didn’t live up to her own standards.
In the days leading up to Sunday’s game against No. 10 Iowa, the reigning national player of the year didn’t spend time sulking or dwelling on the last game’s disappointment.
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Instead, she was preparing for her response.
UConn vs Iowa takeaways: UConn women’s basketball vs Iowa | Biggest takeaways from Huskies’ win
UConn vs Iowa highlights: UConn women’s basketball vs Iowa | Sarah Strong sets career high in win
Strong scored a career-high 39 points to lead UConn past Iowa in a 91-79 win over Iowa. The junior was spectacular from start to finish, scoring bucket after bucket all over the floor in a dominant bounce-back victory for the Huskies.
Her performance not only got the Huskies back on track but also gave UConn exactly what it has been seeking since she became the face of the program.
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After one of the poorest performances of her UConn career, Strong responded exactly the way coach Geno Auriemma and her teammates have been asking her to all season. The junior didn’t just lead with the production on the floor, but with confidence and presence that comes with being the Huskies’ cornerstone player.
Auriemma has repeatedly challenged Strong to embrace a larger leadership role, both with her play and with her voice. Sunday’s performance showed what UConn could be when she combines her skill set with her leadership.
“She forgot to pack that killer mentality for Ann Arbor,” Auriemma said. “Every one of us probably needs a reminder, needs a little nudge that it doesn’t happen by itself. You have to actively engage like that, and you have to create that mentality for yourself.
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“She has it. And getting it out of her every day is going to be the challenge for our coaching staff … because you could tell today, she had it right from the beginning.”
Strong didn’t wait for the game to come to her. From the opening tip, she hunted her shot.
STORRS, CONNECTICUT – NOVEMBER 08: Sarah Strong #21 of the Connecticut Huskies drives to the rim against McKenna Woliczko #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on November 08, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
The first shots that fell were the jumpers. A spot-up 3-pointer from the top of the key. A face-up jumper from the elbow. A smooth pull-up from the midrange.
Iowa couldn’t knock her off her spot and with every make, Strong wanted to shoot it more.
As her jumper started falling, everything else started to open up. Iowa had to extend its defense, giving Strong easy driving lanes to the rim. She eventually got to the free-throw-line, where she was 4-of-5 in the first half.
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What began as a shooting exhibition quickly turned into a complete offensive performance.
And she saved her best shot of the first half for last.
With the clock winding down, Strong found her spot on the right wing after UConn forward Blanca Quiñonez intercepted a pass.
STORRS, CONNECTICUT – NOVEMBER 08: Sarah Strong #21 of the Connecticut Huskies grabs the rebound against Amari Whiting #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on November 08, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
She caught the ball with 2.4 seconds left and, in no rush, took one dribble and netted a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that erupted the crowd at Gampel Pavilion.
“After watching the last game and knowing how I just didn’t show up at all, I wanted to make an impact from the start,” Strong said. “I just knew I had to anything more for this game.”
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Strong had 26 points by halftime, three shy of her previous career high. She finished Sunday’s game by setting another career-high, putting up 26 shots — 10 of which were from beyond the arc.
Iowa coach Jan Jensen knew that Strong was going to be a problem for her Hawkeyes, even considering how talented they are on defense. But game planning for a motivated Strong and executing that game plan are two very different things.
“She will be one of the best to ever play here, and that’s saying a lot. She’s going to be one of the best ever. Period,” Jensen said.
STORRS, CONNECTICUT – NOVEMBER 08: Sarah Strong #21 of the Connecticut Huskies drives to the rim against McKenna Woliczko #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on November 08, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Strong’s scoring avalanche was the headline, but the way she delivered the performance spoke more about who she eventually needs to be for this team.
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The Huskies don’t need Strong to be a 39-point scorer every night. They just needed a response. They needed the player that Auriemma had given the mantle to be the next great star while embracing all the responsibilities that come with it.
“She was willing to take more shots, which is a start. She didn’t pass up any that she should have taken,” Auriemma said. “It’s just been how do we get her to take all those shots that are open. And maybe because Thursday didn’t go her way and she didn’t play much and she got in foul trouble that she was maybe trying to prove a point. I don’t know, but whatever it was, I liked it.”
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: UConn women’s basketball gets the response it needed from Sarah Strong vs Iowa
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
