In Photo: Paige Bueckers enjoys carol performance as she wishes a hearty Christmas to her fans on IG

UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers shared a festive moment with her fans on Instagram. On Wednesday, she posted a video of herself enjoying a Christmas carol performance, accompanied by a heartfelt message wishing her followers a Merry Christmas.

Bueckers shared a rendition of the Christmas classic, "Silent Night." Alongside the video, she wrote:

"Merry Christmas to all.”

Paige Bueckers' post on her Instagram story

Geno Auriemma calls for improvement from Paige Bueckers and Huskies after USC loss

In a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s Elite Eight showdown, Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies faced off against the No. 7-ranked USC Trojans in Hartford.

This time, however, the outcome didn’t favor the powerhouse program. USC edged out a 72-70 victory, leaving Paige Bueckers and the Huskies questioning what went wrong on their home court.

The Huskies struggled with execution. Early on, UConn looked out of sync, allowing USC to build a lead that proved difficult to overcome.

Despite a spirited second-half comeback, the Huskies couldn’t sustain their momentum, falling just short.

For Auriemma, the loss serves as a wake-up call. While the Huskies have shown flashes of brilliance this season, consistency remains a key issue. With injuries sidelining key players like Azzi Fudd and Aubrey Griffin, UConn has struggled to maintain the high standards they’re known for.

“We have to get better,” Auriemma said after a tough loss to USC. “The execution part in the first half was just as bad as I’ve seen in a few years here in Connecticut.”

The Huskies started the game uncharacteristically flat, struggling to find their rhythm while USC built an 18-point lead. Auriemma praised their second-half effort, where they showed resilience and fire, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment with the team’s lackluster start.

“Really proud of the team that came out of the locker room to play in the second half,” Auriemma said. “But kind of disappointed and not at all happy with the team that came out to start the game.”

UConn's shooting woes were also a factor. This comes after they made a school-record 20 3-pointers in their previous game, the Huskies managed just six against USC.

As UConn waits for its roster to return to full strength, Auriemma wants his players to find consistency and first-half struggles.