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UConn women’s basketball cruises past Boston University 86-32 in season opener

The Huskies started the game on a 25-2 run and never looked back. UConn led by 47 points at halftime and won by 54.

HARTFORD, Conn. — The UConn women’s basketball team ushered in the new season in dominant fashion on Thursday night, dismantling Boston University 86-32.

The Huskies came out of the gates on fire, building an early 11-0 lead. Before the first quarter ended, UConn extended that lead to 25-2. They eventually took a 31-6 advantage into the second quarter.

That quarter featured more of the same, as the Huskies outscored the Terriers 29-7 in the frame, taking a 60-13 lead into halftime after a buzzer beater by freshman forward Sarah Strong.

RELATED: UConn women’s basketball boasts ESPN’s No. 2 recruiting class as the Sarah Strong signing becomes official

The pace slowed in the third and fourth quarters, as UConn outscored Boston University 26-19 in the second half, by which point the game was already decided. The Huskies ultimately earned a 54-point victory.

Head coach Geno Auriemma was able to work on his rotations, as he played 10 players for at least 11 minutes on Thursday evening.

Strong, the top-ranked player nationally in the high school class of 2024, led the way for UConn, scoring 17 points in her debut. Strong made eight of her 12 shots, including a three-pointer.

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Jana El Alfy, the freshman center from Cairo, Egypt who missed all of last season with an injury, also contributed 17 points in her first game for the Huskies. El Alfy also secured 11 rebounds in the game.

Senior guard Paige Bueckers, one of the most talented players in the country, eased her way into the season, scoring 13 points on five of nine shooting. Bueckers hit one three-pointer while playing only 24 minutes.

Sophomore guard Ashlynn Shade chipped in 10 points on four of nine shooting, including two three-pointers.

RELATED: UConn women’s basketball tabbed to win Big East Conference again

Azzi Fudd, a graduate student, did not play on Thursday, as she works her way back from injury. Aubrey Griffin, a senior, did not play for similar reasons, as she attempts to come back from an injury that ended her 2023-2024 season prematurely.

Against Boston University, UConn’s defense dominated the Terriers, forcing 33 turnovers compared to the Huskies’ 12. UConn also shot 54.5% from the field, whereas Boston University made just 26.7% of their shots.

UConn was on point from distance as well, as the Huskies shot 40.9% from three-point range. Boston University shot just 29.4% from behind the arc.

The game was attended by 13,355 people in Hartford’s XL Center. UConn women’s basketball is back in action on Sunday against the South Florida Bulls at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs.

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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com

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