UConn women begin season with Mohegan Sun exhibition against Syracuse: live updates, analysis

College hoops is back earlier than ever this year, with UConn women’s basketball taking the floor Monday evening for an exhibition game against Syracuse.

The Huskies trounced their former Big East rivals 98-45 in the NCAA Tournament last season, and UConn fans will hope for a similarly dominant performance against the Orange in their first look at Geno Auriemma’s squad this year.

Here’s everything you need to know about Monday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena:

How to watch UConn vs. Syracuse exhibition

Unlike all of UConn’s regular-season games, Monday’s television broadcast is limited to local audiences, airing on NBC Sports Boston. The game will also stream for free on UConn+ and be available on the UConn Sports Network radio (FOX Sports 97.9).

The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, the longtime home of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

Injury update: Quinonez, Ziebell expected to be out

While there’s no injury report for Monday’s game, UConn’s pregame warm-up provided a glimpse into the status of a few sidelined Huskies. Star sophomore returnee Blanca Quiñonez, French freshman Marine Dursus and junior Allie Ziebell were all limited participants in Saturday’s open practice, but Auriemma stated that Ziebell may be a full-go for Monday’s game.

However, Ziebell appears not to be participating in warmups at Mohegan Sun Arena alongside Quiñonez and Dursus. On the flip side, Morgan Cheli is expected to make her first appearance in around 20 months.

Geno Auriemma sets expectations for Syracuse exhibition: ‘Weird’

While the stands will be full of passionate Huskies fans in Uncasville Monday night, the matchup against Syracuse won’t count in the win/loss column, a fact that Auriemma is trying to remember as he prepares to kick off his 42nd season leading the UConn program.

“Exhibitions are weird,” Auriemma said. “You’re basically playing a glorified practice game against other people rather than the people you normally practice against. But you’re working on how you prepare for regular games, staying over (the night before), shootaround, the whole game-day experience, and all that.

UConn vs. Syracuse matchup history

Fifth-year Syracuse Felisha Legette-Jack nearly pulled off a shocker in Storrs two seasons ago, as her Orange pulled within two points inside the final two minutes, but Paige Bueckers finished off her 32-point night with a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to secure a 72-64 win. Aside from that blip, the Huskies have enjoyed total dominance against Syracuse as longtime conference rivals – Auriemma boasts a perfect 15-0 record against the Orange this decade, with just one other game decided by single digits.

However, as the Big East took shape in the years before Auriemma’s arrival, UConn played the role of punching bag against its northern neighbors. The Huskies lost their first seven meetings against Syracuse starting in 1980, and it took Auriemma until 1990 to finally secure a road win in upstate New York.

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This article originally published at UConn women begin season with Mohegan Sun exhibition against Syracuse: live updates, analysis.