The Huskies have done it! Geno Auriemma and his squad have broken the Gamecocks’ five year long momentum to clinch a game at the CLA. Ever since losing to South Carolina in 2020, the UConn squad has been 1-5 against the Gamecocks. They started the 71 game winning streak at home for South Carolina, and it’s only fitting that they are the ones to end it. Not only that, it is the Huskies’ first top-5 road win since Dec 2018.

It is a 87-58 blowout victory with Huskies star Azzi Fudd headlining in this incredible effort. Her explosive third quarter stifled South Carolina’s attempts at a comeback as she scored 18 points, with 4 threes. POTY candidate Paige Bueckers continues to be in a scoring slump, but she pulls off a great night of facilitation! She recorded an impressive twelve points and ten assist double-double.

Dawn Staley’s team just could not get it to go tonight. Losing by 29 points at home is bad enough, but seeing your fans leave with over 4 minutes left is worse. The stadium had started to empty out in the fourth quarter itself.

This victory bodes well for Geno Auriemma and his team, as it provides an immense amount of momentum and confidence for the Huskies. With only a few more conference games left, UConn is headed towards a title run. Geno Auriemma has to break his five-year-old curse, and what better way to start his campaign than beating South Carolina!

Geno Auriemma rewinds the clock to 2018, relishes in similar triumph

Although the winds have been blowing towards South Carolina’s side for the last few years, winning even a championship against the team, coach Geno remembers better days. Before 2020, UConn dominated against the Gamecocks. It wasn’t a competition, and it wasn’t even close.

Till date, their overall record leans towards the Huskies rather than South Carolina because of their previous domination. It is now 10-5 in UConn’s favor, with Staley’s team winning their only five games quite recently. Interestingly enough, this game turned back time to the 2018 Elite Eight matchup in Albany.

UConn, even then, won by 29 points against Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks. Both teams had their own stars in Napheesa Collier, Gabby Williams, and A’ja Wilson. However, it was Geno Auriemma who proved to be the biggest contributor. His timely substitutions and game strategies proved to be the difference maker against South Carolina and Dawn Staley.

With a star-studded roster led by Paige Bueckers, the Huskies look to win this year’s national championship. While the path to a title is not unobstructed, coach Geno and his stars have a pretty good shot at it! They will need Paige Bueckers to step up out of her slump, and to play hard. What do you think? Will the Huskies win a chip this year? Can they continue their good form? We will find out as the season progresses.