NCAA standout Jovana Popovic knocked down three of four 3-pointers and finished with 19 points on Monday, as UConn women's basketball opened its college season with a 100-35 blowout win over Cornell.
UConn's Depth Outshines Cornell in NCAA Season Opener
The Huskies took control early behind a 21-0 surge followed by a 22 point stretch that widened the halftime lead to 46-13. Along with Popovic, AP National Player of the Year Sarah Strong put up 19, adding a career-high eight steals and five assists for UConn on the night.
The Huskies forced 29 turnovers and collected 25 steals as a team, with Strong responsible for seven of those in the first half alone. Cornell, meanwhile, managed just 25% shooting from the field and hit only five of 35 3-point attempts under constant UConn pressure.
With the outcome decided well before the final buzzer, Popovic and Strong stayed benched for the fourth quarter as coach Geno Auriemma tested his team's rotational depth.
Huskies Honor Late Beat Writer Carl Adamec
And while the Huskies enjoyed the easy season tune-up, the night carried an emotional footnote as UConn honored late writer Carl Adamec with flowers at his courtside seat. Adamec spent 41 years on the UConn women's basketball beat before his death earlier this year.
With their first test behind them, Auriemma's squad now faces a much tougher opponent in No. 5 ranked Michigan on Thursday.
