"What did we do to deserve you": Fans gush over 'Future #1 draft pick' Sarah Strong after career-high game as Geno Auriemma's UConn trounce Iowa State
Sarah Strong had a career outing against the Iowa State Cyclones on Tuesday, posting a career-high of 29 points, nine rebounds and four assists on over 55% shooting in UConn's 101-68 win. She scored 12 points in the first half before pouring 17 points in the third quarter. It is the freshman's 11th consecutive game with double-digit scoring and fourth game with at least 20 points.
Fans stormed social media to appreciate the 6-foot-2 freshman:
"What did we do to deserve you😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️," a fan wrote.
"Future #1 draft pick. Fun fact: her mom is Allison Feaster," another fan commented.
"I get so much Maya Moore vibes from her . Best player on a star studded team as a freshman. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾," another fan wrote.
More fans joined in to praise Strong's basketball acumen:
"Om*g it’s gonna be scary when she figures out she can’t be stopped.," a fan commented.
"I will NEVER EVER be a uconn fan. But I am a Paige Bueckers fan. Then this Sarah Strong…I love watching this young woman play!!! Good player on her way to greatness 👍🏾👍🏾," another fan wrote.
"Sarah strong just keeps getting better and better 😭😭😭 shes actually insane im so excited to see her development in each game," another fan commented.
Sarah Strong and UConn Huskies broke records against Iowa State
Apart from Sarah Strong, Ashlynn Shade also posted her career-best performance. The sophomore guard went 10 of 13 from the field (7 of 10 from the 3-point line) to score 27 points.
Paige Bueckers also scored 27 points of her own on 10 of 15 shooting. As the UConn trio scored 25+ points each on more than 50% 3-point and overall shooting, they became the only group in men's and women's basketball to do so in a regulation game since 2000.
Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson achieved that statline twice with the Golden State Warriors in 2018 and 2019 while the WNBA is also yet to see such a performance.
Strong, Paige Bueckers and Ashlynn Shade combined for 17 3-pointers in the contest, helping the Huskies to 20 long-range bombs. It broke the program's all-time record for most 3-pointers in a game.