University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Sweeps BIG EAST Weekly Honors
1/12/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEW YORK – After leading the undefeated UConn women's basketball team to two wins last week, sophomore forward Sarah Strong was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week and forward Blanca Quiñonez was tabbed the conference's Freshman of the Week Monday.
Strong averaged 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 5.5 steals per game last week while shooting 72.0% in 27.7 minutes per game.
In an 88-43 win over St. John's, Strong scored 24 points on 11-15 shooting. She added five assists and matched her career high with six steals. In a 95-54 win at Creighton, she had her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points (7-10 shooting), 13 rebounds, six assists and five steals. Strong didn't play in the fourth quarter of either game.
This season, Strong is averaging 18.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 blocks and 3.7 steals – all which lead UConn – on a .600/.424/.889 shooting split.
Quiñonez averaged 14.5 points on 60.9% shooting with 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game.
Against St. John's, Quiñonez scored 14 points with three rebounds and four steals. At Creighton, she had 15 points on 7-11 shooting with four rebounds and three steals.
Quiñonez is third on UConn with 10.6 points per game this season and is shooting 57.4% from the field and 47.2% from three-point range.
This is Strong's seventh career BIG EAST Player of the Week honor and Quiñonez's sixth Freshman of the Week honor.
This is the fifth time this season UConn has swept the conference's weekly honors.
The top-ranked Huskies (17-0, 8-0 BIG EAST) returns to Gampel Pavilion for the first time since Dec. 7 this Thursday to host Villanova (14-3, 7-1) at 7 p.m. Before the game, the Huskies will celebrate the 10-year anniversaries of the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Championships. Limited tickets to the game remain here.
UConn BIG EAST Weekly Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Nov. 10: Sarah Strong
Nov. 17: Sarah Strong
Nov. 24: Azzi Fudd
Dec. 15: Azzi Fudd
Dec. 22: Sarah Strong
Jan. 12: Sarah Strong
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Nov. 17: Blanca Quiñonez
Nov. 24: Blanca Quiñonez
Dec. 15: Blanca Quiñonez
Dec. 22: Blanca Quiñonez
Dec. 29: Blanca Quiñonez
Jan. 12: Blanca Quiñonez
