UConn cruises to 41st straight win on Saturday despite missing star forward Sarah Strong

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Sarah Strong missed the first game of her career for top-ranked UConn for what coach Geno Auriemma termed as “rest”.

The sensational sophomore, who is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, missed the Huskies’ 80-48 win over Butler on Saturday. Strong played and started in all 64 games since coming to Connecticut over the past two seasons.

Strong was out on the court in sweats for pregame warmups, occassionally rebounding and passing to teammates. Auriemma said she could have played if she needed to.

“I think it goes all the way back to USA Basketball. Just trying to make sure that whatever tightness she feels doesn’t really go any further,” Auriemma said after UConn won its 41st consecutive game. “”If she had to play today, she would have played but we have a long way ahead of us, the college version I guess of load management.”

The Huskies looked a little sluggish on the offensive end of the court in the early stages of the game.

“When you are used to just throw things to Sarah when things are a little bit stale and I think there was more of us standing around than normal,” Auriemma said. “I thought once we got the hang of it, I thought the second half we were much better.”

Sophomore guard Allie Ziebell started in Strong’s place. She had 11 points and four steals. Azzi Fudd led the Huskies with 17 points.

“I think in the first half, I felt her absence,” Fudd said. “I felt like we weren’t attacking enough. She is a great cutter, a great passer and we pass to her and make a cut. I felt like we weren’t driving enough, getting into the lane and those are things she does really well. It is hard to pick up when somebody like Sarah Strong is out, but we tried to do a little bit more.”

UConn (25-0) hosts Creighton on Wednesday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball