Forth Worth, TX — Sarah Strong’s decision to leave home and join UConn continues to pay off — for both her and the Huskies.
The sophomore forward, who grew up in nearby Durham and once considered North Carolina, delivered a dominant performance Friday night, leading top-seeded UConn to a 63-42 victory over the Tar Heels in the Sweet 16.
Strong finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, controlling the game on both ends as the defending champions advanced to the Elite Eight for the 30th time in program history.
“She’s incredibly tough to deal with,” North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said. “I’ve known her a long time and think the world of her, but as an opponent, she creates problems everywhere on the floor.”
The game shifted early in the second quarter. After UConn grabbed the lead for good on a layup from Blanca Quiñonez, Strong took over. She knocked down four straight shots in a rapid two-minute stretch, sparking a surge that put the Huskies firmly in control.
That run was part of a larger takeover, as UConn outscored North Carolina 37-13 across the second and third quarters to break the game open.
“I just wanted to stay aggressive,” Strong said. “When I do that, it helps create opportunities for everyone else, too.”
UConn (37-0) will now face Notre Dame in Sunday’s regional final, with a trip to the Final Four on the line. The matchup adds another chapter to one of women’s college basketball’s most familiar postseason rivalries.
The Huskies have a long history with the Fighting Irish in March, including multiple Final Four clashes and back-to-back national championship meetings in 2014 and 2015 — both won by UConn during its dominant title run.
North Carolina (28-8) was led by Indya Nivar, who scored a career-high 20 points, but the Tar Heels struggled to keep pace. They turned the ball over 24 times and shot just 28% from the field — their lowest mark of the season.
UConn’s defense played a major role in that, applying constant pressure and forcing mistakes throughout the night. The Huskies also made history in the process, recording their 583rd steal of the season to set a new NCAA record.
“Defense has been our identity,” coach Geno Auriemma said. “When you have a group that embraces that mindset, it can really wear teams down.”
Strong embodied that identity. Along with her offensive production, she contributed five steals and two blocks, impacting nearly every possession.
She was especially effective in the second quarter, scoring 11 points as UConn built a halftime lead. The Huskies carried that momentum into the third, opening the half with a 12-0 run that put the game out of reach.
Azzi Fudd, another key piece for UConn, shook off a slow start to finish with 10 points, including a three-pointer during that decisive stretch.
For North Carolina, the loss marked another early exit. The program has not advanced beyond the Sweet 16 since 2014, and this defeat follows a similar finish last season.
Meanwhile, UConn continues its march toward another title, extending its winning streak to 53 games and moving one step closer to championship No. 13.
And for Strong, the stage now gets even bigger — just one win away from returning to the Final Four.
