NCAAW: Paige Bueckers becomes fastest UConn Husky to score 2,000 points

Conference play has cranked up across women’s college basketball, resulting in upsets, blowouts and everything in between:

Paige nets 2K

Due to several unfortunate injuries, it’s easy to be a bit disappointed when thinking about what could have been for Paige Bueckers. Yet, what has been still is pretty dang great.

On Sunday, the redshirt senior star, playing in her 102nd game, scored her 2,000th point, becoming the fastest UConn Husky to reach the milestone. The previous record was held by Maya Moore, who met the 2,000-point plateau in 108 games. Bueckers is the 12th Husky to join the 2,000-point club.

The history-making bucket came early in the second quarter on a jumper, ticking her past 2,000 and to 2,001 points. Bueckers finished with 19 points, playing just 23 minutes in UConn’s 96-36 win over Seton Hall.

On anticipating and then reaching the achievement, Bueckers said:

I knew I was six points away, so eventually, hopefully I would get there. I didn’t want to press, I didn’t want to force the issue and just let it happen naturally within the game flow and continue to play the right way, look for my teammates, look for my shot, play UConn basketball, and what’s supposed to happen will happen.

Head coach Geno Auriemma said of his star’s accomplishment:

To be able to put that many points on the board in that short period of time is one tremendous accomplishment. To be able to do it in spite of the ups and downs and missing an entire season and a [half] of another season, to stay mentally locked in, to stay positive and to still be committed to putting the work in, there’s a lot that goes into being able to be out there and make the shots that she makes given what she’s been through. I don’t know too many people that work at the game as hard and as often as she does, so I’m glad that she’s being rewarded. And I’m sure there’s a few more points in her future.

Freshman forward Sarah Strong, a future candidate to join the Huskies’ 2,000-point club, scored 23 points, in addition to grabbing 11 boards. Senior guard Azzi Fudd added 18 points. Grad wing Aubrey Griffin also returned to the court for the Huskies, playing for the first time since tearing her ACL last January. She totaled three points, four rebounds and two assists in 10 minutes.

Gamecock greatness

Another supposed top-ranked test for South Carolina? Another authoritative statement from the Gamecocks.

This time, South Carolina’s near-instant rout over Oklahoma came with a dash of MiLaysia Magic, with the sophomore guard authoring several spectacular first-half plays that epitomize the Gamecocks’ joyous dominance. Fulwiley finished an alley-oop from junior guard Raven Johnson, drained a deep 3 as the first-quarter buzzer sounded and dazzled with another saucy layup through traffic. Her nine fabulous first-half points from off the bench propelled South Carolina to a 49-24 halftime lead. Oklahoma surrendered 11 turnovers through the first two quarters, while shooting 28.9 percent from the field and 7.7 percent from 3.

The second half proved perfunctory, with the Sooners failing to muster the fight necessary to threaten the Gamecocks. South Carolina dropped 101 on Oklahoma, winning 101-60 for their largest win over a ranked opponent in program history. Freshman forward Joyce Edwards led the Gamecocks in scoring for the second-straight game, finishing with 17 points from off the bench. Fulwiley had 15 points, while sophomore guard Tessa Johnson’s 13 points completed South Carolina’s high-scoring bench trio. For the seventh time this season, the Gamecocks received at least 50 points from their reserves.

The victory marks three-straight wins over ranked SEC foes by an average of 25.3 points. It also extended South Carolina’s SEC regular-season winning streak to 53 games, while their home winning streak at Colonial Life Arena reaches 68 games. Next up for the Gamecocks are the undefeated Tigers of LSU. (More on this one below.)

Dawn deserves it all

Speaking of South Carolina’s record-setting ways. On Friday, Dawn Staley became the highest-paid head coach in women’s college basketball history.

The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved a contract extension for the three-time national championship-winning head coach that will go through the 2029-30 season. Staley’s annual salary starts at $4 million. The contract also includes a $500,000 signing bonus and an annual salary escalator of $250,000, resulting in a total value of $25.25 million.

On her extension, Staley said:

I’m proud to represent the University of South Carolina and of its investment in women’s basketball. What we’ve been able to accomplish on the court is a testament to what can happen when you bring together the right people from a team perspective but also have the right commitment from the University, the Athletics Department and the community to providing that team with everything it needs to be successful. I appreciate every person who has been part of our journey….I look forward to continuing to be an example of how an investment in women’s basketball is one that will pay off for everyone.

Earlier in the week, Staley received another honor, as she was announced as a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

And then there were two

Only two undefeated teams remain in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. UCLA and LSU stand alone thanks to Penn State, which upset Ohio State on Sunday afternoon.

Early on, it appeared the Buckeyes were poised to extended their record to 18-0, as, midway through the first quarter, they held a 14-2 advantage over the Nittany Lions, who entered the game winless in the Big Ten. By the end of the first frame, Penn State had narrowed Ohio State’s edge to eight points, 18-10. Still, the signs of an upset were scarce.

In the second quarter, the Nittany Lions began to turn things up, holding the Buckeyes to just nine points in the period. Ohio State rediscovered their scoring in the third, yet Penn State kept up, resulting in a score knotted at 51-51 to start the fourth. The final period was ugly, with the Buckeyes shooting less than 17 percent from the field and the Nittany Lions shooting only somewhat better at under 27 percent. Yet, that was enough for Penn State to pull out the 62-59 win.

The final seconds, however, were anything but comfortable, as Ohio State junior forward Cotie McMahon stole the ball in the backcourt and found junior guard Chance Gray for a corner 3 that would have forced overtime. The good look didn’t drop, and Penn State secured the rebound to seal the upset.

The boards made a big difference for the Nittany Lions, as they outrebounded the Buckeyes 39-21. Penn State also benefitted from 34 points in the paint to Ohio State’s 22. Sophomore center Gracie Merkle was largely responsible for these advantages, as she finished with a 12-point and 10-rebound double-double. Senior guard Gabby Elliot led the Nittany Lions with 14 points, while sophomore guard Moriah Murray added 12 points. Senior guard Jayla Oden was Penn State’s fourth double-digit scorer, with her 13 points from off the bench helping the Lions win the bench scoring battle, 19-5.

McMahon led Ohio State with 19 boards, six assists and five rebounds, while Gray had 18 points. The Buckeyes missed the extra pop provided by freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge, who was listed as questionable and missed the game.

Game-changing players, performances

Big-name players like Paige Bueckers aren’t the only ones making an impact for their teams. Here’s a look at athletes, from the well-known to the lesser-known, who have positively influenced their teams’ play:

The Diamond Johnson-Kierra Wheeler duo did it again. The Norfolk State grad guard and senior forward combined to carry the Spartans to a 77-69 victory over Morgan State on Monday. Both scored 24 points, with Johnson adding eight steals, seven assists and five rebounds, while Wheeler grabbed 13 boards for the double-double. Johnson also was named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year midseason watchlist. On Sunday, however, sophomore guard Da’Brya Clark stole the spotlight for the Spartans, racking up 25 points, eight assists and eight steals as Norfolk State smoked Virginia-Lynchburg, 123-51. Clark also contributed three of the team’s program-record 18 3-pointers.

Maryland survived for the 99-92 win over Minnesota on Tuesday behind a season-best performance from senior guard Shyanne Sellers, who shot almost 82 percent from the field and 100 percent from the line as she scored 27 points, grabbed nine boards and dished seven assists. As a team, the Terps did not miss a free throw, going 21-for-21 from the stripe.

On Tuesday, for the first time in almost 30 years, Iowa State did not make a 3-pointer in a game. The Cyclones’ 0-for-7 effort from behind the arc ended a NCAA-record 945-game streak. But, Iowa State did enough inside the arc to get the 71-58 win over Texas Tech. The sophomore tandem of forward Addy Brown and center Audi Crooks did the most damage. Brown finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists; Crooks had 28 points and nine boards.

On Tuesday, TCU sophomore guard Ella Hamlin played just three minutes and missed both her shot attempts in her team’s win over UCF, 90-81. However, it will be a game to remember for the “Underfrog.” The lone remaining player who walked on to the Horned Frogs at the depths of their injury-ravaged 2023-24 season, Hamlin was awarded a full scholarship by head coach Mark Campbell after the game.

Having had their previous game against Northwestern postponed due to the LA wildfires, UCLA returned to the court on Wednesday, facing Penn State at The Walter Pyramid at Long Beach. Junior center Lauren Betts ensured the extra adversity would not negatively impact the Bruins’ perfect record, leading her team to the 83-67 win with a 22-point and 12-rebound double-double. Betts also swatted seven shots for good measure.

One the sport’s sharpest shooting duos might be a pair of Spiders. Richmond juniors Rachel Ullstrom and Maggie Doogan combined to captain their team to the 98-60 win over St. Bonaventure. Ullstrom led the way with 30 points, powered by a 6-for-7 performance from behind the arc. Doogan tallied a 17-point and 12-rebound, while also tossing six assists. At 6-1 in Atlantic 10 play, Richmond is atop the conference table.

Gonzaga grad forward Yvonne Ejim capped off her impactful night on Thursday with a game-winning layup with nine seconds remaining, allowing the Bulldogs to squeak out the 66-65 win over Portland. Ejim finished with a career-high 35 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 75 percent from the field and sinking 11 free throws.

Freshman guard Sira Thienou starred as Ole Miss defeated Florida 94-69 on Thursday. Going 5-for-6 from downtown, she tallied a career-high 29 points while adding seven steals, five rebounds and five assists. On Sunday, the Rebels earned the 71-63 rivalry win at Mississippi State behind at career-high 30 points from grad wing Madison Scott.

Senior guard Peyton Verhulst popped off for 38 points in Oklahoma’s Thursday win over Missouri, 80-63. 20 of her points came in the third quarter. On the night, she swished six 3-pointers while also shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the line.

On Saturday, Harvard enjoyed some more Harmoni Turner heroics, with the senior guard scoring 33 points, her third-highest output of the season, in the inter-Ivy win over Brown, 83-53. Turner scored from everywhere, making five 2-pointers, six 3-pointers and five free throws. She also had a trio of assists and steals.

San Diego State freshman guard Natalia Martinez was on fire on Saturday, making her first five 3-pointers as she finished 6-for-7 from deep on her way to 22 points. The Aztecs defeated Utah State, 85-66. Martinez didn’t just get buckets, as she also grabbed nine boards and distributed seven assists.

Cincinnati scored a Big 12 win over Colorado on Saturday, winning 65-59 behind senior guard Tineya Hylton’s career-high 27 points. The 5-foot-7 Hylton came up big, earning 12 free throws and swishing 10 of them.

Florida State dominated Miami 88-66 in the in-state battle on Sunday, led by senior forward Makayla Timpson and junior guard Ta’Niya Latson. Timpson’s 10 points and 13 boards resulted in her 42nd career double-double, a new program record. She also notched a seven “stocks.” (steals+blocks). Latson poured in 30 points, going 5-for-5 from 3 and 10-for-13 overall. As a team, the Seminoles made a program-record 18 3-pointers.

On Sunday, Vanderbilt freshman guard Mikayla Blakes tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to give Vanderbilt the 71-70 upset of Tennessee. The game winner not only gave Vandy just their 11th win over Tennessee in 90 meetings, and their first since 2019, but it also gave the Blakes family two game winners on the weekend, as Mikayla’s brother Jaylen, a senior guard at Stanford, sank a buzzer-beating jumper against North Carolina on Saturday. Mikayla ended the afternoon with 23 points, keeping her atop the freshman points leaderboard at 360 total points.

Teams can finally earn March Madness money

On Wednesday, a long-overdue inequity was addressed, as NCAA membership unanimously approved a plan to pay women’s basketball teams for playing games in the NCAA Tournament, just as men’s teams have been paid for doing so for years.

Beginning with this year’s tournament, performance units, which will come from a performance fund that will be supplied from the sport’s media rights revenue, will be distributed to women’s teams that participate in the tournament. $15 million will be awarded to teams in 2025, which is 26 percent of the revenue from women’s basketball’s media deal. The amount is expected to increase to $25 million, and 41 percent of the media deal revenue, by 2028. Performance units will be transferred from the NCAA to the conferences and then to the schools, as is the case in men’s basketball.

On the approval of the performance units plan, North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart, who also is the president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, said:

The long awaited, hard fought for and well-earned day is here….I am so grateful for the effort of so many to bring this reality to our sport. Women’s basketball is more popular than ever before, seats are filled, arenas are sold out and games are on national TV almost every night.

UConn’s Paige Bueckers also offered a positive assessment of the policy, saying:

Just for women to capitalize on what we brought to the sport and what we do for just sports in general and entertainment and just to be able to be a part of that, we’re extremely grateful.

A look ahead

In a sport with as much talent as women’s college basketball, there often is more than one “Game of Year.” The latest—and maybe the greatest—is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. ET, when undefeated LSU visits undaunted South Carolina. ESPN’s College GameDay crew will be one the scene to hype up the tilt between two of the nation’s most talented teams.

Everywhere else, conference schedules also are heating up. Here’s look at rest of the week’s many intriguing matchups:

Monday, Jan. 20 (Coretta Scott King Classic)

Baylor vs. UCLA (3 p.m. ET, FOX)

Texas vs. Maryland (5:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

Thursday, Jan. 23

Maryland vs. Ohio State (6 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)

LSU vs. South Carolina (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Tennessee vs. Texas (9 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

Saturday, Jan. 25

Michigan State vs. Michigan (12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)

UConn vs. Creighton (5:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

Sunday, Jan. 26

Florida State vs. North Carolina (12 p.m. ET, ACC Network)

UCLA vs. Maryland (2 p.m. ET, NBC)

Duke vs. Georgia Tech (2 p.m. ET, ACC Extra)

Vanderbilt vs. Alabama (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

Texas vs. Ole Miss (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Baylor vs. TCU (3 p.m. ET, ESPN2)