UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- The UConn Huskies women's basketball team rolled over the Syracuse Orange in the team's exhibition opener at Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday night.

The 88-60 victory came seven months after the two teams met in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, a game that UConn won 98-45.

This game started off looking like it was going to go the same way, with the Huskies taking a 12-2 lead in the first quarter, but Syracuse cut the game to single-digits by halftime at 37-28.

UConn extended its lead in the third quarter, but even though the game ended up lopsided, there are multiple things that head coach Geno Auriemma will want to see improved.

Reigning National Player of the Year Sarah Strong picked up four fouls in this contest, including three in the first half, with Auriemma joking postgame that that's a new skill for her this year. More importantly, the Huskies were just 3-of-22 from three-point range, something that obviously needs to improve as the competition ramps up through a very challenging Huskies schedule.

UConn made up for its poor shooting by getting to the lane at will, and KK Arnold was at the center of that, but still, the Huskies will have to get better from deep. Azzi Fudd, who was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft this year, was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country. Monday night was a reminder that she's no longer in a UConn uniform and that the team needs to find additional answers.

Strong hit the first three of the game, and the Huskies connected on their final three of the game. In between, they were just 1-of-21.

Auriemma said that Blanca Quinonez, who is recovering from shoulder surgery that she underwent in April, is recovering well. He indicated that there are some more benchmarks for her to hit before she hits the floor again, but he didn't say exactly when that would be. Reading the tea leaves, it doesn't sound like it's that far away, but again, he offered no specific timetable.

Quinonez was a Second-Team All-Big East selection last season. The sophomore was the Big East Freshman of the Year and the Sixth Woman of the Year.

The Huskies will be back in action next Monday night against the Texas Longhorns at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. Tip-off time is set for 7 p.m. ET.