Paige Bueckers, No. 2 UConn top No. 1 South Carolina in overtime
Paige Bueckers took over at the perfect time for No. 2 UConn on Tuesday night.
Bueckerrs, after a late South Carolina rally forced overtime in their marquee matchup at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, drilled eight straight points – including a clutch 3-point bucket — to give the Huskies a 63-59 win over the top-ranked Gamecocks.
UConn holds on after South Carolina run
The first half was a tight defensive battle, as each team went to the locker room at the break with just 24 points. The Huskies were held to 0-6 from the 3-point line, though they forced 13 South Carolina turnovers.
In fact, the only 3-pointer made by anyone in the first two quarters came at the buzzer, thanks to a wild half-court heave from Zia Cooke.
🚨 AT THE BUZZER! 🚨
A half court buzzer beater for @zia_cooke of @GamecockWBBpic.twitter.com/DvuoxRKhLS— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 9, 2021
UConn pulled ahead slightly in the second half, taking a brief seven-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Yet a quick 11-0 South Carolina burst brought them right back into control of the game.
South Carolina held UConn to just five points through the first eight minutes of the final period — though back-to-back buckets from Bueckers tied the game back up with just 49 seconds left in the contest.
With one final chance, the Gamecocks missed four different buckets in the final play — three of them layups right at the rim — and ended up sending the game into overtime.
STATS
This post will be updated with more information shortly.
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