UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) grabs a rebound in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Holy Cross, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Freshman Sarah Strong scores 22 points to lead No. 2 UConn past Holy Cross 88-52

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Freshman Sarah Strong scored 22 points and No. 2 UConn outscored Holy Cross by 30 points in the second half of an 88-52 victory on Tuesday night.

Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 points and Paige Bueckers added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists for UConn (7-0), which led 33-27 at the break and shot 7 for 12 from 3-point distance in the second half.

Lindsay Berger scored 12 points and Kaitlyn Flanagan added 10 points for Holy Cross (4-4).

Azzi Fudd made her first start of the season for UConn after missing the first three games of the season as she recovered from a knee injury that limited her to just two games during the 2023-24 season. Fudd scored seven points in 18 minutes.

Takeaways

UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) drives to the basket as Holy Cross guard Simone Foreman (24) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Holy Cross: The Crusaders held UConn to a season-low 33 points in the first half and are the only opponent to be within single digits of UConn at halftime this season.

UConn: After shooting 3 for 14 from distiance against Ole Miss, the Huskies had a season-high 14 3-pointers.

Key moment

Holy Cross pulled within four points on Kaitlyn Flanagan’s 3-pointer 49 seconds into the second half. After a layup by Bueckers, Sarah Strong had a basket and a steal that led to Kaitlyn Chen making 1 of 2 shots from the line. Chen added a fast-break layup and Fudd capped 10-0 run with a 3-pointer, putting the Huskies up 46-32.

Key stat

UConn guard Azzi Fudd, left, reaches for the ball against Holy Cross guard Simone Foreman, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

UConn finished with 27 assists on 35 baskets. That included 18 assists on 22 baskets in the second half as the Huskies shot 64.7% from the field after halftime.

Up next

The Crusaders host Stony Brook on Sunday. UConn faces Louisville in the Women’s Champions Classic on Saturday at Barclays Center.

UConn forward Sarah Strong, top and Holy Cross guard Simone Foreman wrestle for the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
UConn guard Morgan Cheli (23) makes a three-point basket over Holy Cross guard Janie Bachmann (21) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
UConn guard Kaitlyn Chen (20) makes a three-point basket against Holy Cross in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
UConn forward Sarah Strong, center, and guard KK Arnold, left, battle for possession of the ball with Holy Cross forward Meg Cahalan during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
UConn forward Sarah Strong, pushes through with the ball after being fouled by Holy Cross forward Lindsay Berger (35) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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