STORRS, Conn. — In a commanding performance, Paige Bueckers put on a show by scoring 19 of her total 22 points in the first half, leading the No. 2 ranked UConn to an impressive 86-49 triumph over South Florida, a former conference rival, on Sunday.

This victory marked the 1,215th career win for UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, placing him just one win away from tying the college basketball record held by former Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.

Bueckers’ stellar first half play propelled the Huskies to a comfortable halftime lead of 43-25. The game commenced with Ice Brady quickly putting UConn on the board, as they surged to an early 9-0 lead.

In the third quarter, Ashlynn Shade played a significant role, scoring 10 of the Huskies’ 30 points. UConn (2-0) maintained control throughout the game, never trailing at any point. Shade concluded the contest with 15 points, while teammate Sarah Strong contributed 13 points to the scoreboard.

For South Florida (2-1), Mama Dembele netted 12 points, and Sammie Puisis added 10 points to the team’s total.

**Key Insights**

The top two scorers for the Bulls, Dembele, who transferred from Missouri, and Puisis, a Florida State transfer, showcased their strengths, with Dembele scoring eight points in the first half and Puisis contributing seven points early on in the match.

From UConn’s standpoint, Auriemma has achieved 34 victories against South Florida, as the Bulls have historically been unable to secure a win against the Huskies.

**Turning Point**

As UConn held a six-point lead, Bueckers contributed four points while four other players scored, culminating in an impressive 11-0 run for the Huskies. Kaitlyn Chen notably provided two points and two assists during this decisive stretch.

**Notable Statistic**

UConn demonstrated remarkable efficiency, having missed consecutive shots only once through the first three quarters. By the end of the third quarter, the Huskies led decisively at 73-39, especially impressive considering they only defeated South Florida by seven points in their last encounter during the 2021 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

**Looking Ahead**

South Florida is set to face Vanderbilt at home on Thursday, while UConn will take on North Carolina this Friday in Greensboro, North Carolina.