MVP Sarah Strong makes her feelings clear on "challenging" college basketball after career-high night for UConn

Sarah Strong, a standout freshman forward for the No. 4 UConn Huskies, recorded a career-high 29 points in Tuesday's 101-68 victory over Iowa State. She continued her impressive start to her college career and has emerged as a key piece for Geno Auriemma's team.

Strong joined teammate Ashlynn Shade and coach Auriemma in the postgame press conference, where Auriemma praised the duo's performances. A reporter asked Strong if she felt the competition and challenge at the college basketball level.

"Yeah, it's definitely been challenging. It's not easy," Strong said (4:39). "It's a huge adjustment from high school. The pace and just the physicality, and just playing a new role on a new team with new teammates, has also been an adjustment."

In the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, Sarah Strong led the way for UConn with 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, ripped down nine rebounds and added four assists.

For her efforts, Strong was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Paige Bueckers, a senior guard, also continued her fine form as she dropped 27 points, two rebounds and two assists. Bueckers is leading the Huskies in scoring with 20.6 points per game, whereas Strong is following closely with 17.3 ppg.

Geno Auriemma sees vast potential in Sarah Strong's game

Apart from being her career high, the 29 points against the Cyclones were also Sarah Strong's fourth 20+ points game of the season. Coach Geno Auriemma praised her development and believes she has tremendous upside.

"I think she plays instinctively, plays with whatever the game gives her. I don't think she tries to force something to happen that isn't there," Auriemma said postgame (2:35). "I'm not saying she's perfect ... she had just scratched the surface of what she can do.

"And as more players on our team become even more comfortable with her because a lot of times I think we're not quite sure sometimes where she is — I think as the season goes on, I just have a lot of confidence in her ability and her judgment."

Sarah Strong, a 6-foot-2 native of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, is leading the team in rebounding with 8.3 rpg and has also chipped in 17.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.2 spg and 1.5 bpg.

The Huskies (10-1) will host the seventh-ranked USC Trojans in a highly anticipated top-10 matchup on Saturday at the XL Center in Hartford.