NCAAW: UConn’s Geno Auriemma on verge of NCAA’s all-time wins record

The second week of the 2024-25 NCAAW season did not disappoint, with a milestone-making win for UConn head coach Geno Auriemma highlighting the week’s action:

Geno ties Tara at 1,216

On Friday evening, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma won the 1,216th game of his 40-year career, as the No. 2-ranked Huskies defeated No. 14 North Carolina, 69-58, in Charlotte.

The win ties him with former Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer for the most wins in NCAA Division I basketball history. The record can become all Auriemma’s on Wednesday, Nov. 20 when UConn hosts Fairleigh Dickinson in Gampel Pavilion (7 p.m. ET, SNY).

Commenting on the achievement after Friday’s game, Auriemma said:

I’m more of how do I put [the players] in position so they can feel like I feel, like I’ve been very fortunate to get a lot of things come my way. And they came hoping to get some of those things. So I just keep the focus on that all the time. And whatever happens on my end happens.

Redshirt senior star Paige Bueckers, who dropped a season-high 29 points in the win, said of her head coach:

It’s the reason you came to UConn, to play under him. So it’s been a dream come true, and we’re super proud of him. I know he doesn’t talk about himself too much, just a little bit.

To be a part of this, it’s amazing, and it speaks to the longevity of what he’s built here at UConn—the history, the players, the success, the national championships. So it means everything to play for UConn and play for him.

JuJu’s making moves

On Friday, USC sophomore superstar JuJu Watkins crossed the 1,000-point plateau just 38 games into her college career, finishing with 22 points in the No. 3-ranked Trojans’ win over Santa Clara, 81-50. Watkins is tied for the fourth-fastest player to achieve the milestone, matching the scoring pace of Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne, among others.

On her accomplishment, Watkins said, “I’m not taking anything for granted. Very blessed to be in this position. This is great, something to build off and continue to work on,” while USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb added:

When you break a record at USC, it hits a little different because the people you break the record from are so great. JuJu belongs in that conversation, and we’re all comfortable in saying it. It was the great Cheryl Miller who was next.

On Friday, Watkins also became the first NCAA athlete to receive her own Funko Pop figure. Said Cynthia Williams, CEO of Funkko:

After seeing the incredible surge of enthusiasm for women’s college basketball this past year, we knew we had to create something that truly captured the passion of its fans. JuJu Watkins has played a pivotal role in elevating the sport, and we’re thrilled to honor her impact with our inaugural NCAA Pop! collectible.

Getting buckets, boards and more

Here are some of the most impressive individual performances from the past week of NCAAW action:

Creighton prevailed over Drake on Monday 80-72, with grad guard Lauren Jensen powering the Blue Jays. A perfect 6-for-6 from 2-point range, she also made six 3s, totaling 32 points. She added 10 boards for the double-double, along with a trio of steals and a pair of assists.

Oklahoma State guard Anna Gret Asi drained seven triples on Monday night, scoring 33 points in the Cowgirls’ 87-57 win over Texas Southern.

On Tuesday, senior wing Aneesah Morrow delivered a 20-20 game for LSU, scoring 21 points and grabbing 20 rebounds as the Tigers thrashed Charleston Southern, 117-44. On Friday, junior guard Flau’jae Johnson saved LSU from an upset, with her 25 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals helping the Tigers overcome a double-digit deficit to Murray State for the 74-60 win.

In her second game as a Buckeye, junior guard Chance Gray ignited the nets for Ohio State, stroking a program record-tying nine 3-pointers in the 94-53 victory over Charlotte on Tuesday.

Loyola Marymount snuck out a 71-67 overtime win at South Dakota on Wednesday behind a 33-point and 10-rebound effort from sophomore forward Maya Hernandez. She did all her damage from inside the arc, going 15-for-21 from the field as she played all 40 minutes.

Last week, sophomore guard Crislyn Rose balled out for Arkansas State. On Wednesday, it was senior guard Kennedie Montue. In just 23 minutes from off the bench, she went 7-for-9 from behind the arc. Her 26 points were accompanied by nine boards and three steals. The Red Wolves, who made a program-record 20 3s as a team, smoked Mississippi Valley State, 114-54.

While Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Liatu King are showing out for the Fighting Irish, so is freshman forward Kate Koval. On Wednesday, in the third game of her college career, she grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked six shots, while also scoring 14 points for her first career double-double. Notre Dame defeated James Madison 92-46. On Sunday, however, it was Hannah Hidalgo’s turn. The Notre Dame sophomore guard was on a heater, scoring 29 points. The effort included a 5-for-6 display from downtown, spurring the Fighting Irish’s program-record 15 made 3-pointers. In Hidalgo fashion, she also had five steals, as well as five assists. Notre Dame took care of Lafayette with ease, 91-55. Olivia Miles, who Eric Nemchock recently profiled as a 2025 WNBA Draft prospect, also excelled on Sunday afternoon, stuffing the box score with 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

Harvard senior guard Harmoni Turner can’t be stopped. After an inside-the-arc masterclass helped the Crimson upset Indiana in week one, she did her damage from deep to take Harvard past Boston College on Thursday, 78-70. Turner went 7-for-11 from 3 as she scored a program-record 41 points. She also grabbed 10 rebounds for the double-double. On Sunday, the Turner train kept rolling, as she dropped 38 points in Harvard’s 83-41 win over Maine. In this one, Turner was a perfect 11-for-11 from the line, while grabbing six steals as well.

Florida State senior forward Makayla Timpson delivered another loud performance, with a 38-point and 15-rebound, plus three-assist, three-steal and three-block, domination in the Seminoles’ 101-68 win over Samford on Thursday. Timpson leads the nation in total rebounds and rebounds per game.

The nation’s scoring leader? That honor belongs to Rutgers’ senior wing Destiny Adams, who is averaging 27 points per game. On Friday, she torched Iona with 28 points, leading the Scarlet Knights to the 81-53 win. She also grabbed 11 boards to earn the double-double.

West Virginia senior guard JJ Quinerly was terrific in her team’s Friday win over Texas A&M, 83-62. She went 4-for-5 from 3-point range, swishing her way to 27 points. Quinerly’s stat line also featured four assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Tennessee advanced to 4-0 on Saturday behind a big afternoon from Talaysia Cooper. The sophomore guard dropped 33 points and grabbed nine boards as the high-flying, shot-happy Lady Vols hung 109 points on Liberty, winning 109-93.

On Saturday, Haley Cavinder offered a reminder of why her return to college basketball matters. The graduate guard, who, along with her twin sister Hanna, came out of a one-year retirement to again suit up for Miami, led the Hurricanes to victory in the all-Florida showdown against the Gators. Captained by Cavinder’s 31 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, Miami prevailed over Florida 83-73.

On Sunday, Lipscomb junior guard Ainhoa Cea messed around and got a triple-double, with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Bison’s 71-53 win over Morehead State.

Did we witness the Jadyn Donovan breakout game? The sophomore wing scored a career-high 23 points and tied her career best with 15 rebounds. Her double-double helped the Blue Devils escape South Dakota State with a 75-71 win on Sunday. Donovan also tallied four assists and four steals.

Buckeyes bring back Smith, Sheldon

On Monday, Ohio State announced that Katie Smith is returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach after 11 seasons on the WNBA sidelines.

Jacy Sheldon also is heading back to Columbus, with the No. 5 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings set to serve as the program’s director of player development.

On adding both Smith and Sheldon to his staff, Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff said:

I’m extremely excited to add both Jacy and Katie to the staff. As former Buckeyes they both possess a passion for this program that will be instrumental in helping us continue to compete at the highest level of women’s college basketball. Together they will have a big presence in the community as we proceed with growing our already incredible fan base.

A look ahead

A history-making moment likely will define the first part of the coming week, with Geno Auriemma getting win No. 1,217 when UConn meets Fairleigh Dickinson. After that, some more competitive contests dot the calendar, highlighted by a pair of battles between national championship contenders in LA on Saturday and Sunday.

Wednesday, Nov. 20

Fairleigh Dickinson vs. UConn (7 p.m. ET, SNY)

Auburn vs. Oregon (9 p.m. ET)

Saturday, Nov. 23

Notre Dame vs. USC (4 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

Sunday, Nov. 24

South Carolina vs. UCLA (4 p.m. ET, FS1)