David Butler II / Associated Press
South Carolina’s 12-game winning streak ended after top-ranked Gamecocks suffered a 63-59 loss in overtime for No. 2 UConn Monday night at the Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.
Paige Bueckers lived up to the hype like a real freshman, and her legend continues to grow. The 5’11 “guard showed a level of balance denying her years, registering the highest score in the game, 31 points, in addition to six steals, five assists and four rebounds.
Bueckers put the finishing touches on the victory with a three-point shot, while the kick timer slowed with 10.8 seconds remaining in overtime.
She also performed the UConn attack at the end of the regulation, when South Carolina was rolling thanks to an 11-0 run.
Bueckers halved the deficit of the Huskies with a medium-range jumper and tied the game in 54 with 49.5 seconds remaining.
Gamecocks still had the opportunity to win the game in regulation after a UConn twist. Destanni Henderson’s jump went off target and Aliyah Boston and Victaria Saxton’s retreat attempts were unsuccessful.
While South Carolina was building a three-point lead in overtime, Bueckers once again responded to the call with two quick shots to put the Huskies ahead 60-59 before a happy jump sealed the result.
Entering Monday night, UConn and South Carolina were two of the best offensive teams in the country. The Huskies and Gamecocks classified fourth and 11th in points per game.
However, they had only 48 points in the first half.
UConn really struggled to find a rhythm, going 12 out of 35 on the field, missing all six of his three points and making 10 turns. Still, the Huskies would have taken a 24-21 lead to the locker room at halftime had it not been for a half-court horn from Zia Cooke.
UConn needed Bueckers to move up because no other Huskies player scored double digits. Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa had six points each, combining to shoot 6 out of 21. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley summed up after the game:
Boston also celebrated on UConn’s attacking court, and the sophomore striker may have propelled South Carolina into victory, were it not for his four fouls. She double-doubled (17 points and 15 rebounds) while playing 43 minutes.
Once Boston was whistled for her fourth personal goal at the 5:26 mark of the final quarter, however, she couldn’t be that aggressive on the inside.
This briefly took away what had been an advantage for Staley’s team. Gamecocks outperformed UConn 52-39 – including grabbing 19 offensive cards – and had 40 points in the painting.
Ultimately, the highlight belonged to Bueckers.
Geno Auriemma saw a litany of female basketball legends wearing a Huskies uniform. Although it is too early to compare Bueckers with stars from UConn’s past, she seems ready to follow in his footsteps.
And Monday could be a preview of the Final Four or the national championship that will take place this spring.