WBB: Stung! UConn can’t turn the Paige in historic loss
ATLANTA-The University of Connecticut’s first Paige Bueckers-less excursion since March 2020 was historic for all the wrong reasons.
With numerous outlets’ defending Player of the Year (as well as key reserve Nika Muhl) joining the Huskies’ star-studded injury report, UConn dropped a 57-44 decision to Georgia Tech on Thursday night at McCamish Pavilion. The Huskies (5-2), currently stationed at No. 3 in the AP poll, fell to an unranked opponent for the first time in 240 contests, a streak that dated back to February 2012. Their final total also marked the first time they were held below 45 points since February 2006.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa (12 points, 10 rebounds) earned her second straight double-double in defeat, while Lotta-Maj Lahtinen led the way with 15 points for the victorious Yellow Jackets (7-2).
With Azzi Fudd and Aubrey Griffin already missing, Thursday marked UConn’s first excursion since Bueckers was lost to a late knee injury in Sunday’s win over Notre Dame. Muhl was diagnosed with a foot injury shortly after and did not play, affording Dorka Juhasz her first start since transferring from Ohio State. With the addition of the 6’5 Juhasz in the lineup, UConn ran unusually tall in the starting five.
Georgia Tech entered with a 12.8 rebounding margin, second-best in the ACC. While the Huskies were able to keep pace by tying the board battle at 37 (despite 13 for Lorela Cubaj), they failed to atone for the scoring left behind by Bueckers and Fudd. The shooting triumvirate of Evina Westbrook, Christyn Williams, and Caroline Ducharme are expected to take over Bueckers’ load over the next six-to-eight weeks but united to shoot only 2-of-15 from three-point range, stifled by GT’s conference-best defensive endeavors. The Yellow Jackets have now earned wins over ranked opponents in consecutive contests, previously holding No. 20 Georgia to 54 in a one-point win on Sunday.
The fourth quarter was particularly painful in all new ways for the Huskies: outscored 18-5 in the final frame, UConn went over ten minutes of game time without a successful shot from the field. Their final period tally was stuck at a single point until Westbrook put in two baskets within the final 90 seconds. By then, the affair was more or less decided. Nerea Hermosa (who played all 40 minutes) put in a pair of layups that gave Georgia Tech the lead for good.
After a Hermosa jumper put the Jackets up by nine with four minutes remaining, the desperate Huskies resorted to intentional fouls for the remainder of the frame. While the Yellow Jackets went 6-for-10 from the line (8-for-16 overall), the Huskies’ futility from the field sealed their fate.
Redemption potentially awaits the Huskies in a high-profile showcase on Saturday afternoon in Newark, NJ, as they’ll take on UCLA in the Never Forget Tribute Classic at Prudential Center (1 p.m. ET, ABC).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
