Sarah Strong has always had an edge.
Whether it’s her tenacity on the defense or her ball movement in the paint, the 6-foot-2 big is a matchup nightmare.
Last Sunday, when the No. 4 UConn women’s basketball program took on the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes, fans had a chance to see this edge on full display.
With 39 points and 10 rebounds contributing to the Huskies’ 91-79 win over Iowa, she achieved successful reclamation, after a heartbreaking loss a game before against the now No. 2 Michigan Wolverines.
“She has it in her,” head coach Geno Auriemma said Sunday about Strong’s edge. “Getting it out of her every day is going to be the challenge for our coaching staff. How do we put her in positions where that has to come out, because you can tell today she had it right from the beginning.”
Now, UConn has another ranked opponent on the docket with a bout against the No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday evening.
The last time these two foes faced one another was last season on Nov. 16, when the Huskies took the win 100-68. Strong racked up a total of 29 points, seven assists and three blocks on the night.
Since these programs faced each other for the first time in 2010, UConn has won seven of the matchups compared to Ohio State’s one. The Buckeyes’ only win against the Huskies is from the 2022-23 season, when they beat the Huskies in the Sweet 16.
Like last year’s matchup, Strong will be facing a familiar face on the court. Junior Jaloni Cambridge was the No. 2-ranked recruit of the incoming 2024 class behind Strong. Cambridge, a native of Nashville, Tenn. leads the Buckeyes currently, averaging 20.7 points per game.
Over their last three games to open their 2026-27 campaign at home, the Buckeyes are undefeated. Even though their starting line is smaller than what the Huskies are used to, especially in the backcourt, they will utilize their home-court advantage to move to 4-0 on the season.
After Sunday’s game against the Hawkeyes, Auriemma emphasized that having these tougher matchups are crucial learning points for his squad as they set their sights on another National Championship.
“The communication wasn’t bad today. It wasn’t great, but the decision-making was just bad on some things,” Auriemma said postgame Sunday. “Early in the season, if we played a team that we beat by 50, we wouldn’t be learning these things; these things wouldn’t be showing up. So, we’re not going to go zero and four. So, I’m happy about that.”
This matchup against Ohio State is the first of a two-game road trip. The Huskies will travel to Louisville on Sunday to take on the No. 7 Cardinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Husky fans can tune in to the matchup on FS1.