STORRS, Conn. — In a dominant performance on Sunday, Paige Bueckers achieved a significant career milestone by scoring 18 points, leading No. 6 UConn to a commanding 96-36 victory over Seton Hall.
Bueckers reached the remarkable feat of 2,000 career points with a jumper at the 8:05 mark of the first half, accomplishing this in just 102 games, which surpassed the previous record held by Maya Moore who achieved it in 108 games. She is now among the twelve players in UConn history to reach this scoring landmark.
Freshman sensation Sarah Strong shone brightly with a double-double, putting up 23 points along with 11 rebounds, while fellow teammate Azzi Fudd also contributed 18 points in the winning effort for UConn, which improved their record to 17-2 overall and 8-0 in the Big East.
On the other hand, Jada Eads led Seton Hall with 14 points, but the Pirates were at a disadvantage, missing key players Savannah Catalon and Connecticut native Shailyn Pinkney. This marked the eighth consecutive game for Catalon on the sidelines and the ninth for Pinkney as they faced UConn.
In a notable stretch, Sarah Strong was pivotal in a 16-2 run for UConn that extended their lead to 26-7 late in the first quarter.
Key Takeaways include that Seton Hall has now lost 40 consecutive games to UConn, although they have held onto third place in the Big East standings despite being projected to finish seventh in the preseason. For UConn, the game also marked the return of Aubrey Griffin, who had been recovering from a torn ACL. In her first play of the season, Griffin recorded three points, four rebounds, and two assists in just 10 minutes of action.
A crucial moment came when Bueckers attempted to reach the milestone on a layup after showcasing an impressive behind-the-back dribble. Although she missed, she quickly made two free throws to reach 1,999 points before subsequently hitting the mark.
Statistically, UConn excelled from beyond the arc, making nine of 12 attempts after an inconsistent start. They finished the game with a total of 17 three-pointers, just three shy of their season’s highest record.
Looking ahead, Seton Hall will host St. John’s next Saturday, while UConn is set to face Villanova on Wednesday.
