Arguably, the most anticipated non-conference rivalry resumes on Sunday afternoon in Columbia, SC. Geno Auriemma, his 1,200 wins and No. 11 UConn (20-4) meet Dawn Staley, No. 1 South Carolina (22-0) and their undefeated record at 2 p.m. ET (ESPN).
It will be the 14th meeting between the two programs, although the first game, a UConn win in Dec. 2007, came before Staley took over South Carolina. Even after Staley’s arrival, Auriemma and the Huskies got the best of the Gamecocks, winning the first eight games in the series.
Of late, South Carolina has taken control of the rivalry, winning four of the last five meetings and three in row. UConn’s only recent win was in Feb. 2021, when then-freshman Paige Bueckers was masterful, scoring 31 points to lead the Huskies to a four-point overtime win in Storrs. South Carolina, of course, defeated UConn in the 2022 national championship game. Last season, Aliyah Boston, with a season-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, powered the Gamecocks to a four-point road win.
A South Carolina-UConn game full of fresher faces
Sunday’s affair, however, primarily will involve players who have not featured prominently in recent matchups. Yes, Bueckers will be expected to lead the Huskies, alongside seniors Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Mühl. Last…