UConn coasts to victory over High Point, 102-59

UConn coasts past High Point, but loses Muhl to injury

UConn women’s basketball guard Paige Bueckers, right, led UConn to a 102-59 rout of High Point in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio Sunday. Bueckers scored 24 points with nine rebounds and six assists.

SAN ANTONIO — As bizarre as the circumstances were, UConn pretty much did what it normally does in the Round of 64, bottling up a team that had little business being on the same floor.

The Huskies, a No. 1 seed for the 13th time in 14 years, made quick work of 16th-seeded High Point in its NCAA Tournament opener Sunday at the Alamodome, 102-59.

The win didn’t come without a scare though as freshman Nika Muhl, the Huskies’ effervescent point guard, sprained her right ankle midway through the second quarter after stepping on an opponent’s foot. Muhl, who injured her left ankle earlier this month in the Big East quarterfinals, left on crutches and did not return.

It was an otherwise uneventful night for the Huskies (25-1), who shot a healthy 59% and led for all but 22 seconds.

The 11-time national champions have now won 27 straight first-round NCAA games dating to a loss to Louisville in 1993, and will play eighth-seeded Syracuse Tuesday in the second round.

UConn was fueled by a familiar source of brilliance: Paige Bueckers, who shot 9 of 13, poured in 24 points, the most for a freshman in her Huskies NCAA Tournament debut.

“You have to give High Point a lot of credit,” UConn interim coach Chris Dailey said.

“They’re well-coached, they have their style, they were physical

and they battled ... but Paige has another gear, and when she gets to that point it’s tough to stop her.”

Bueckers added nine rebounds and six assists. Olivia Nelson-Ododa (22 points), Aaliyah Edwards (17 and 12 rebounds), Christyn Williams (13) and Evina Westbrook (10) joined her in double figures.

Dailey, in her 36th year with UConn, improved to 11-0 running the team in Geno Auriemma’s absence.

Auriemma, who tested positive for COVID-19 last Sunday, won’t rejoin the team until March 24, and assistant Shea Ralph’s return is uncertain. Ralph returned home to Connecticut after a member of her family was diagnosed with the coronavirus last Wednesday.

High Point (22-7), the Big South champion making its NCAA Tournament debut, got 14 points from guard Skyler Curran.

The Panthers, who came with the second-most 3pointers in the country, shot 9 of 34 from beyond the arc and 32% overall.

Eric Gay / Associated Press

Eric Gay / Associated Press High Point guard Jenson Edwards, center, dives for a loose ball against UConn guard Evina Westbrook, left, and guard Paige Bueckers during the first half at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Sunday.

Eric Gay / Associated Press UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) battles High Point guard Chyna McMichel (22) and High Point guard Claire Wyatt (5) for a rebound during the first half.