Paige Bueckers ties Napheesa Collier on elite UConn list, sets sights on Breanna Stewart

Redshirt senior Paige Bueckers delivered another stellar performance, leading the No. 2 UConn Huskies (5-0) to a dominant 71-52 victory over the Oregon State Beavers (1-5) on Monday at the Baha Mar Women's Championship in Nassau, Bahamas.

Bueckers tallied 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, along with six assists, three rebounds and a steal. This marked her third 20-point game of the season, helping the Huskies maintain control throughout the contest.

With this performance, Bueckers tied Napheesa Collier for the third-most 20-point games in UConn history, with 49. She trails only Breanna Stewart (65 games) and Maya Moore (76 games).

With a long way to go in the season, Bueckers has a chance of surpassing Stewart’s mark and potentially challenging Moore for the top spot. Her prospects will be boosted if UConn secures a Big East title and makes a deep run in March Madness.

Bueckers and Moore hold the record for being the quickest to reach 1,000 career points, doing so in just 55 games. Bueckers also set the program’s freshman record for assists with 168.

The Huskies will face No. 18 Ole Miss (4-1) in the Baha Mar Women's Championship final on Wednesday. The game will be broadcast on FloCollege and the UConn Sports Network from Learfield (FOX Sports 97.9).

Paige Bueckers eyes first NCAA championship in final season with UConn

Bueckers is determined to cap off her collegiate career with an NCAA championship under the leadership of legendary coach Geno Auriemma.

From 2020 to 2024, the Huskies have made one Sweet Sixteen and two Final Four appearances. They have also reached one national championship game, but the ultimate prize has eluded them.

Bueckers had a standout performance last season, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks over 39 games. The Huskies made it to the Final Four but lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes led by Caitlin Clark.

This season, she has picked up right where she left off, posting averages of 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 steals across six games.

With UConn off to a strong start in the 2024-25 season, Bueckers is focused on leading the team to a championship and ending her collegiate journey on the highest note possible.