The record-breaking University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has an eye on a 12th national championship

After losing only twice last season, the University of Connecticut women’s basketball has turned the page with the entire roster returning.

The Huskies under Geno Auriemma have won a record 11 national championship, and after turning out a load of All-Americas since their initial title in 1985, now it’s 5-foot-11 sophomore point guard Paige Bueckers coming off Player of the Year, All Big-East, and first team All-America with depth that Auriemma hasn’t has had in recent years.

In the Sunday morning season opener at the off-campus Hartford Center, they faced Arkansas, which handed them a 90-87 setback in Little Rock last year.

At the time and due to the shortened coronavirus pandemic season, teams needed games, and after a two-day notice, UConn decided to hit the road and play before a packed arena, three officials from Little Rock, and while the Razorbacks made good that night on 16-of-21 freebies, the Huskies converted only 8-of-11 from the charity stripe.

After the final buzzer, Bueckers was content, “Just couldn’t wait for this game,” she said, “and we came out and took care of business this time, leading from start to finish, and getting most every body into the game.”

The final score was 95-80, with UConn holding leads of 18 and 22 points.

And it was the modesty and team play of the versatile, team leader Bueckers that paved the way this time. She took only one shot in the first quarter, didn’t make it, and dished out a pair of assists to help open a 14-4 lead, and then went to work in the second  quarter with 17 points on the way to a college career-high 34 points.

Auriemma has probably gotten a little grouchy in his 38th season at the helm of the record-breaking Huskies. At halftime, he noted how his defense allowed too many outside shots that included 3s, and was not happy with his foul shooting.

After the game, he said: “Our defense has to get better, not allow open shots or fast breaks, and we’ve got to work on our foul shots. Otherwise, we got another super game from Paige, and Christyn (Williams) and Evina (Westbrook) played well.”

Williams, a senior, tossed in 18 points, three more than Westbrook, also a senior, and sophomore Aailyah Edwards and 6-5 senior Olivia Nelson-Ododa tallied nine each. Nelson-Ododa blocked three shots and brought down eight rebounds, as did Westbrook, who also handed out five assists.

After the opening quarter, about every shot Bueckers attempted found the net as she wheeled and dealed and the defense had no answers.

She was her usual stellar self, making outside shots, driving to the basket, and making good on 15-of-19 tries from the field. She converted 4-of-5 free throws  in a contest where the Huskies were a poor 16-for-25 from the stripe, brought down six rebounds, had a total of four assists to go with two steals, two blocks, not one turnover, and only two personal fouls while playing 40 minutes, the most on either team.

UConn shot 56.9 percent from the floor (37-65), had the edge in rebounds, 40-37, assists, 20-11, blocks, 6-4, steals, 8-4, and made good on 5-of-18 3s. Currently, the Huskies rank second behind South Carolina. Their only other loss last season came in a tussle against Texas in the NCAA semifinals, while Stanford ousted South Carolina and won the championship in a hectic overtime finish versus the Longhorns.

As for UConn in this opener,  Auriemma sent High School Player of the Year Azzi Fudd into the game early, and she tossed in seven points and took down three rebounds. In all, he employed nine players in what could well be the start of something good again.

This roster has two seniors, one junior, six sophomores, and five freshmen. For size, it lists four 6-5ers, two at 6-2, one at 6-3, one at 6-1, four at 5-11. and one each at 6-0, and one at 5-10. There is not a single player on the roster from Connecticut, but eight players from eight different states, as well as one each from Kingston Ontario, Zagreb, Croatia and Pecs Hungary.

And Williams just happens to be from Little Rock and was overjoyed after avenging the defeat to the Razorbacks.