GREENSBORO, N.C. – Redshirt senior Paige Bueckers scored 29 points to lead the No. 2 UConn women's basketball team (2-1) past No. 14 North Carolina (3-1), 69-58, Friday evening in First Horizon Coliseum.
Bueckers went 4-for-8 from three-point range and added four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Freshman Sarah Strong, a native of Durham, N.C., filled the stat sheet in her home state. Strong notched 14 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and five blocks.
With the victory, head coach Geno Auriemma reached 1,216 career wins, tying with Tara VanDerveer for the college basketball record.
Bueckers scored 16 points in the first quarter, including a buzzer beater in the last second. The Huskies outscored the Tar Heels 25-14 in the first.
UConn's offense slowed in the second before the Huskies used a 20-16 burst in the third quarter. North Carolina was able to pull within nine in the fourth, but clutch shots by Jana El Alfy and Bueckers helped UConn keep the lead.
The Huskies moved to 9-5 all-time vs. the Tar Heels.
UConn returns to Gampel Pavilion to host FDU (4-0) next Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Huskies will celebrate the ruby anniversary of Auriemma and Chris Dailey and honor their impact and legacies over the last 40 seasons in Storrs.
Latest Women's Basketball
- Sue Bird Named 2025 Women’s Basketball HOF InducteeUConn women's basketball legend Sue Bird will be a 2025 inductee in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2025 was announced during halftime of the UConn-North Carolina game Friday.
- UConn Signs Fisher, Malou-MamelHead coach Geno Auriemma announced the signing of Kelis Fisher and Gandy Malou-Mamel to the 2025 freshman class Thursday.
- No. 2 UConn to Face No. 14 North Carolina FridayThe No. 2 UConn women's basketball team (2-0) faces its first ranked opponent of the season as the Huskies take on No. 14 North Carolina (3-0) Friday at 6 p.m. in First Horizon Coliseum. The game will air on ESPN2 and the UConn Sports Network (FOX Sports 97-9).
- Bueckers Named to Wade WatchUConn women's basketball redshirt senior Paige Bueckers is one of 15 players on the 2024-25 Wade Watch list of candidates for the 2025 Wade Trophy, Trophy which is presented to the best player in college women's basketball, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Tuesday.
- Strong Named BIG EAST Freshman of the WeekAfter helping the No. 2 UConn women's basketball team to a pair of season-opening wins, Sarah Strong was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference Monday.
- No. 2 Huskies Ease Past South FloridaRedshirt senior Paige Bueckers scored 22 points to lead the No. 2 UConn women's basketball team (2-0) past South Florida (2-1), 86-49, Sunday afternoon in Gampel Pavilion.
