HARTFORD, Conn. (Interstat) — The No. 1-ranked Connecticut Huskies delivered a dominant defensive performance, overwhelming the Loyola Chicago Ramblers in an 85-31 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at a sold-out XL Center.

From the opening tip, Connecticut’s pressure was suffocating. The Huskies forced the Ramblers into 33 turnovers, converting those miscues into 45 points. The defensive effort was a team-wide affair, with Connecticut registering 25 steals, led by Sarah Strong’s three.

The Huskies set the tone early, closing the first quarter on a 15-2 run to lead 22-9. The Ramblers’ offensive struggles intensified in the second and third quarters, managing just eight combined points as the Huskies built an insurmountable 64-17 lead heading into the final period.

Connecticut’s offense was efficient and balanced, shooting 48 percent from the floor and dishing out 25 assists on 37 made baskets. The Huskies also dominated inside, outscoring Loyola Chicago 52-6 in the paint.

Sarah Strong, a freshman from Durham, North Carolina, led a deep and versatile Huskies attack with 11 points, three rebounds, four assists and three blocks in just 19 minutes. KK Arnold added 11 points and five assists, while Serah Williams contributed 10 points and four rebounds. In total, nine different Huskies scored.

Loyola Chicago was held to a season-low in points, shooting just 22 percent from the field. The Ramblers’ offensive rating of 44.4 reflected the difficulty of scoring against the Huskies’ relentless defense. Alexa Kinas led Loyola Chicago with seven points, five rebounds and three assists.

With the win, Connecticut remains undefeated at 3-0, while Loyola Chicago falls to 1-2. The Huskies are scheduled to host Ohio State on Sunday. Loyola Chicago will return home to face Maryland-Eastern Shore, also on Sunday.