Story by
No. 2 UConn women's basketball crushes Cornell in season opener: Highlights
- Story by
- No. 2 UConn women's basketball crushes Cornell in season opener: Highlights
HARTFORD, CT — The No. 2 ranked UConn women's basketball left no doubt that they will be just fine without Azzi Fudd, the latest Husky to be picked No. 1 in the WNBA draft.
UConn was convincing in its 100-35 victory over Cornell in the season opener on Monday, Nov. 2, at PeoplesBank Arena. The Huskies held the Big Red scoreless for 10 minutes from the end of the first quarter into the second and led by as many as 49 points.
Advertisement
It was the 31st consecutive season-opening victory for UConn. They last loss in an opener came in 1995.
"You go into every season opener with the same level of, hey, I can't wait to see what we have. I am anxious to see what it looks like and you hope that everyone performs pretty well," UConn coach Gen Auriemma said. "... We have some work to do, at the same time, we did some good things.
"I thought we competed really hard, played with a lot of energy."
Junior Sarah Strong picked up right where she left off as National Player of the Year, with 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and eight steals. Freshman Jovana Popovic scored 19 points and Marine Dursus and KK Arnold added 11 points apiece. Olivia Vukosa had eight rebounds.
Advertisement
UConn's defense was the best in the nation last season and looks like a force again. They held the Big Red to 25% shooting. Cornell also committed 29 turnovers that led to 43 points.
Strong was asked how the team is gelling compared to her other two seasons at UConn.
"I feel like every year, the team chemistry is going to be different," Sarah Strong said. "It's new team with new players, we got build it in practice."
The depth is impressive. Auriemma played 10 players in the first quarter. He said he is looking at different combinations as the season begins. UConn will be tested in its next four games at No. 5 Michigan, vs. No. 10 Iowa, at No. 18 Ohio State and at No. 7 Louisville.
Advertisement
That's why you schedule teams like this, you know you're gonna be tested," Auriemma said of the upcoming schedule. "All good things will come out of (the Michigan) game and the next three after that. We could be a really good team, or 0-4.
"It's a good way to find out about your team."
USA TODAY Sports had live coverage of the Cornell-UConn game. Here are the highlights:
End of Q3: UConn 67, Cornell 29
06:26 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
If anyone was wondering who would pick up the scoring slack with Azzi Fudd off the the WNBA, Jovana Popovic seems to have answered the question. The freshman has 19 points and three steals against Cornell.
Advertisement
Sarah Strong also has 19 points, five assists and eight steals for the Huskies. Rachel Kaus, who was the Big Red's leading scorer last season, has eight points.
Freshman into double-figures
06:13 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
Jovana Popovic has 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, eight of them in the opening five minutes of the second half. The freshman from Serbia has been impressive in her UConn debut.
Halftime: UConn 46, Cornell 13
05:52 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
The scoring has been balanced for the Huskies in the first half. Junior forward Sarah Strong is leading the way with 12 points, four rebounds and seven steals. Freshman Jovana Popovic has nine points. Jana El Alfy, who is back in the starting lineup this season, has five points.Cornell had five points with a little over two minutes to go in the half. They scored eight in the final 2:19 of the second quarter. Three players have three points apiece.
Advertisement
The Huskies have forced 18 turnovers, leading to 27 points. They held Cornell to 19% shooting.
Cornell goes 10 minutes between field goals
05:47 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
Simone Richmond scored a 3-pointer with 2:19 to get Cornell on the board in the second quarter. The Huskies now lead 46-10.
Sarah Strong in double figures
05:36 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
Huskies forward Sarah Strong is up to 12 points. We are on double-double watch as the junior also has seven steals with five minutes to play in the first half.
UConn leads 40-5.
End of Q1: UConn 27, Cornell 5
05:27 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
Advertisement
Sarah Strong is picking up right where she left off. The defending National Player of the Year has seven points, three rebounds and four steals in the first quarter.
Freshman Jovana Popovic is also impressing in her first start for the Huskies. The Serbian national has six points.
The Huskies defense has held the Big Red to 17% shooting from the field. Cornell has 10 turnovers that have led to 16 points.
UConn on a 15-0 run
05:18 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
The Huskies have jumped out to a 17-3 lead. Freshman Jovana Popovic is up to six points and Sarah Strong has five.
We are underway at PeoplesBank Arena
05:06 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
Advertisement
The Huskies won the tip but turned it over on their first possession. Jana El Alfy scored the first bucket of the game on the next time down the floor.
UConn starting five
04:42 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
How to watch UConn vs Cornell
12:18 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
-
Venue:PeoplesBank Arena (Hartford, CT)
-
Time:5 p.m. ET
-
TV:NBCSN
-
Streaming:Peacock
What time is UConn vs. Cornell today?
12:18 PM ET, November 2 2026, Heather Burns
The Cornell Big Red (0-0) play the No. 2 UConn Huskies (0-0) at PeoplesBank Arena on Monday, November 2, 2026. The game begins at 5 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBCSN.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No. 2 UConn women's basketball crushes Cornell in season opener: Highlights
