Geno Auriemma makes his feelings known about UConn's 3-point shooting struggles after defeat vs USC

Coach Geno Auriemma shared his thoughts after UConn's narrow loss to USC. The No. 4 Huskies fell 72-70 to the No. 7 Trojans on Saturday night.

The Huskies' coach highlighted his team's 3-point shooting struggles and noted similarities to their earlier loss against Notre Dame. This marked their second matchup with a top-10 team this season, leaving UConn 0-2 against ranked squads.

The 70-year-old coach praised his team’s second-half comeback after trailing 42-29 at halftime in front of 15,684 fans at the XL Center. The hosts outscored the visitors 41-30 in the second half and they were only two points away to force overtime or secure a win with a 3-pointer.

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"The second half was more fun. I'm really proud of the team that came out of the locker room to play in the second half. I'm kind of disappointed and not at all happy with the team that came out to start the game. We gotta figure out what the difference is between those two teams," Auriemma said.

However, Auriemma criticized the Huskies' poor 3-point shooting. They made just 6-of-23 attempts, with Paige Bueckers shooting 2-of-8 in her 22-point effort, and freshman Sarah Strong going 1-of-6, including the missed game-winner with five seconds left.

"I think we are a good 3-point shooting team, but I can't keep saying that. We have to prove it and not just one night. We gotta do it more than one night," Auriemma noted.

Auriemma also pointed out frontcourt issues, highlighting the lack of consistent production from his forwards. Sarah Strong was the lone standout, while Ice Brady and Jana El Alfy combined for just two points, five rebounds and three assists on 2-of-7 shooting.

"They have to be able to make a 15-footer. They have to be able to keep the ball out of the lane. If we are playing five against four because we can't get any offense out of them, and we need offense, it's tough to play them," Auriemma remarked.

"But if we can find a way to get some consistency where we feel comfortable throwing the ball on the lane and we think you can get a basket, then that takes a lot of pressure off our guards," Auriemma further added.

After an 8-0 start, UConn now holds a 10-2 record. Auriemma and his squad will need to regroup and string a series of wins, starting with a Big East battle with Providence on December 29.

Sarah Strong’s Standout Performance in Loss to USC

Despite UConn's loss to the Women of Troy, Sarah Strong delivered another stellar double-double and filled the stat sheet across all categories.

As has been the case throughout the season, the Huskies relied heavily on contributions from Paige Bueckers and Strong, who each scored 22 points on Saturday. Strong added 13 rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block to her impressive stat line.

In her standout freshman campaign, Strong continues to solidify her case as a rising star, logging a team-high 38 minutes. She shot an efficient 8-of-15 from the field, though her struggles from beyond the arc persisted, hitting only 1-of-6 three-point attempts.

Strong had a strong fourth quarter, contributing nine points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. She scored a layup to give UConn a brief 65-64 lead and assisted on a Paige Bueckers bucket that tied the game at 67 with 2:24 remaining.

Late in the game, Strong was fouled by Juju Watkins on a three-point attempt. She made the first free throw but missed the next two. After Paige Bueckers secured the rebound, Strong had another opportunity but missed a long three-pointer that could have changed the outcome.

With her consistent performances, Sarah Strong continues to establish herself as one of the nation’s top freshmen.