STORRS, Conn. — In an impressive performance, Paige Bueckers netted 18 points, crossing the 2,000-point milestone in her career, as the No. 6 UConn Huskies secured a commanding 96-36 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday.

Bueckers reached the notable achievement with a jumper at the 8:05 mark of the first half, marking her 102nd game and setting a new program record, outpacing Maya Moore’s previous record of 108 games to reach 2,000 points. Bueckers is now among the 12 players in UConn history to achieve this feat.

Freshman sensation Sarah Strong contributed significantly as well, scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Azzi Fudd matched Bueckers with her own 18 points to help propel UConn (17-2, 8-0 Big East) to victory.

For Seton Hall (13-5, 5-2), Jada Eads led the scoring with 14 points. UConn’s dominance was evident during a 16-2 run, where Strong notably scored nine points, shifting the momentum firmly in their favor and pushing the lead to 26-7 in the first quarter.

The Pirates were missing key players, including Savannah Catalon and Connecticut native Shailyn Pinkney, marking the ninth straight game for Pinkney on the sidelines and the eighth consecutive absence for Catalon.

Regarding the overall implications, Seton Hall faced its 40th straight loss against UConn but remains in a solid third place in the Big East, particularly impressive as they were predicted to finish seventh in the preseason poll.

UConn also celebrated the return of Aubrey Griffin, who made her season debut after recovering from a torn ACL. Griffin contributed three points, four rebounds, and two assists in ten minutes of gameplay. She suffered her injury in a game against Creighton on January 3, 2024.

In a key moment of the game, Bueckers had an opportunity to reach the 2,000-point mark with a layup following a slick behind-the-back dribble but missed the shot. Nevertheless, she ultimately got there with a pair of successful free throws that took her score to 1,999.

Statistically, UConn showcased a powerful shooting performance, making nine of their last 12 attempts from beyond the arc after an initial slow start, finishing the game with 17 three-pointers—just three shy of their season high.

Looking ahead, Seton Hall will host St. John’s on Saturday, while UConn is set to take on Villanova at home on Wednesday.