VILLANOVA, Pa. – Freshmen Sarah Strong scored 21 points to lead the seventh-ranked UConn women’s basketball team (13-2, 4-0 BIG EAST) past Villanova (7-8, 1-2), 83-52, on Sunday afternoon at Finneran Pavilion.

Strong shot 9-12 from the floor and added five rebounds and four assists. Redshirt senior Paige Bueckers had 15 points and a season-high nine assists as a sophomore KK Arnold had her second straight double-digit scoring season with 15 points.

The Huskies outscored the Wildcats in the paint 48-8.

Strong had 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first quarter as UConn took a 23-15 lead. The Huskies held Villanova to nine points in the second quarter and led 40-28 at halftime.

UConn shot 66.7 percent from the field in the second half. Arnold scored 11 of her points in the second half.

The Huskies posted a season-high 30 assists on 35 field goals made, led by Bueckers with nine assists.

UConn returns to the XL Center to host Xavier (5-9, 0-3) next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Huskies celebrate Pride Night to honor the LGBTQ+ community. Tickets are available HERE.