UConn was able to celebrate its 7th victory in a row in the university championship by inflicting a real correction on Seton Hall to sign its second biggest success of the season, with a 60-point difference (96-36)!
But the meeting above all allowed Geno Auriemma's team to celebrate another accomplishment, that of its star player, Paige Bueckerswho became the fastest player in history to reach 2,000 points with just 102 games playing for the Huskies.
The 23-year-old point guard reached this mark in the middle of the first half with a mid-range shot, to finish the game with 18 points and 7 assists. This new stage allows it in any case to measure itself against its prestigious elders since it is now ahead Maya Moore (108 matches), Kerry Bascom (112) and Breanna Stewart (117) in terms of precocity. She is also the 12th player in the program to reach this mark.
“To be able to score so many points in such a short period of time is truly an exceptional accomplishment”, recognized his coach. “To have been able to do it also despite the ups and downs she went through, missing a season, then half a season. But she remained mentally focused, positive and hard at work… There are a lot of parameters that come into play to be able to hit the shots she did. I don't know many people who work on their game as much and as often as she does. So I'm happy to see her rewarded. And I’m sure there are a few more baskets waiting for him in the future.”
Soon in the Top 10 best scorers in Huskies history?
If all eyes were, once again, on her, Paige Bueckers assured that she was not particularly concerned about this symbolic bar.
“I was hoping to get there at some point. I was six points away, so I knew I was going to reach it eventually. But I didn't want to rush or force things, just let it happen naturally during the match, and continue to play the right way, look for my teammates, look for my shooting positions, just play “UConn basketball”, and then what has to happen ends up happening,” she confided.
In the history of the Huskies, Paige Bueckers is already in a good place in terms of points scored in a season (854 in 2023/24, second behind Maya Moore's 868 in 2010/11) or assists made in a match ( 14 behind the 15 of her former teammate Nika Mühl). In terms of career points, however, she is at the gates of the Top 10 where there are still very good names like Diana Taurasi (9th with 2,156 points from 2000 to 2004), or the Collier-Stewart-Moore trio. on the podium, Maya Moore being the only player in history to have exceeded 3,000 points (3,036), a record that is not about to fall.
“That’s pretty incredible to hear.”continued Paige Bueckers about her own record. “But when I talk with the coach, and I see that Maya has scored more than 3,000 points in her career… Anyway, wherever you look here, there is something to be humbled about again.”
