UConn Resilience Shines as Vukosa and Strong Overcome Ohio State
The Huskies overcame an early offensive struggle and foul trouble to secure an 87-55 victory over the Buckeyes.
By Lauren Foster ·
The No. 4 UConn women's basketball team traveled to Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday to face No. 17 Ohio State, bringing with them a recent history of inconsistency when key players sit out. The Huskies secured an 87-55 victory, a result that marked a distinct departure from their earlier loss at Michigan when similar personnel issues arose.
Sarah Strong, the previous season's consensus national player of the year, entered the game in foul trouble. She received two technical fouls within the first eight minutes, forcing her to the bench. Shortly thereafter, Blanca Quiñonez also joined her on the sideline after accumulating three fouls. UConn coach Geno Auriemma was left managing a lineup that lacked its two primary interior options during the first half.
In the absence of Strong and Quiñonez, the Huskies relied heavily on their guards. Ashlynn Shade scored 15 points, marking her highest total since December 13, 2025, against USC. She opened the contest with two three-pointers and accounted for six of UConn's first eight points. Freshman Olivia Vukosa provided stability on the glass, collecting 12 rebounds, eight of which were offensive. She also contributed eight points, six assists, and two blocks in 29 minutes of play.
UConn's performance was initially disjointed. The team committed 13 turnovers in the first 20 minutes, leading to 16 points for Ohio State. The defense allowed the Buckeyes to close a 13-point deficit to three points. Ohio State outscored UConn 13-11 in the second quarter and led 14-0 in fastbreak points at halftime.
The momentum shifted decisively when Strong returned to the lineup for the second half. She scored 17 points in the third quarter alone, including five made three-pointers. This surge helped UConn extend their lead to 20 points in the final minute of the third quarter. Strong finished the game with 25 points and a career-high seven made three-pointers.
KK Arnold, a native of Columbus, added 10 points for the Huskies. Jovana Popovic struggled offensively, shooting 1-of-7 and turning the ball over three times. Despite the early struggles and the absence of key players for extended periods, UConn maintained control in the second half to complete the rout.
