UConn vs. South Carolina: Review of the rivalry

The rivalry began in 2007, when the UConn women’s basketball team hosted South Carolina in Hartford.

The Huskies beat the Gamecocks by 58 points. Five months later, South Carolina hired Temple’s Dawn Staley as its new coach. Sixteen years later, the Gamecocks are the No. 1 team in the country as they host the Huskies Sunday in Columbia, S.C. (2 p.m., ESPN).

FEB. 5, 2023 IN HARTFORD SOUTH CAROLINA 81, UCONN 77:

A championship-game rematch, this was a highly anticipated contest. The Huskies came out hot and outscored the Gamecocks 25-14 in the first quarter. But Aliyah Boston flipped the script for South Carolina and scored 23 of her 26 points in the second half.

Azzi Fudd did not compete in this game due to an injury. It was clear that UConn missed Fudd’s scoring, as she likey could have been a difference-maker in this matchup.

It was a physical game and eventually Geno Auriemma got fed up with the lack of consistency from the refs. The Gamecocks shot 36 free throw attempts while the Huskies shot 25. After watching Lou Lopez Sénéchal get clobbered coming off a screen, Auriemma spiked a water bottle onto the court out of frustration.

He was called for a technical.

“I thought there were a lot of things being overlooked. It was difficult for some of our guys to move out on the floor,” Auriemma said. “I didn’t think it was one key play, I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer. It was bad . ... Dumb mistake by me. Bad decision.”

APRIL 3, 2022 IN MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH CAROLINA 64, UCONN 49:

This defeat was more than losing the NCAA title, it was the first time UConn had ever lost a National Championship game after winning its previous 11 times.

South Carolina outscored UConn 22-8 in the first quarter; the Huskies were able to come within six of the Gamecocks but in the end the deficit was too big to overcome.

South Carolina’s defense completely smothered UConn, out-rebounding the Huskies 49 to 24, including 21-6 on offensive boards.

Bueckers was the only player from UConn to score in double figures and led the team with 14 points.

“I mean, nobody in my position would be happy right now, so I’m obviously upset just with the way things ended,” Bueckers said following the loss. “Super proud of this team for how far we’ve come and all the adversity we’ve dealt with and all we’ve overcome to get to this point. But at UConn, it’s National Championship or nothing.”

NOV. 22, 2021 IN PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS

SOUTH CAROLINA 73, UCONN 57:

UConn battled possession after possession and even led by 13 at one point, yet South Carolina pulled off a late burst and out-scored the Huskies 16-3 in the fourth quarter to secure their victory.

The final 10 minutes proved to be a nightmare for UConn as they only shot 1-of-10 from the floor. During this stretch, the Gamecocks forced seven turnovers and out-rebounded UConn 11-6.

Bueckers led the Huskies with 19 points and Evina Westbrook scored 14. Christyn Williams mustered 10 points, but the rest of the squad struggled offensively.

South Carolina’s Boston snatched 15 rebounds and scored 22 points on 10 of 19 shooting to lead all scorers.

“For 30 minutes we were better, but the 10 that mattered most, they were,” Auriemma said after the game.

FEB. 8, 2021 IN STORRS UCONN 63, SOUTH CAROLINA 59 (OT):

No.2 UConn and No. 1 South Carolina were tied up at the half, the game came down to the final minutes. the Gamecocks went on an 11-0 run with eight minutes left to play, but Bueckers came in clutch by sinking two consecutive jumpers to tie the game 54 with 46 seconds in regulation. Those buckets sent the contest into overtime. Bueckers scored all of the Huskies nine points in OT, including a deep 3 that she attempted as the shot clock was about to expire. She threw up the shot and all of Storrs held their breath as the ball hit the back of the rim and bounced high in the air then favorably fell through the net.

She finished with 31 points and scored UConn’s final 13 points.

“It bounced straight up, so I was like, ‘Man, it’s got to go in,’ ” Bueckers said after the game. “It looked good. It felt good, but, yeah, I would say that was a really nice bounce.”

FEB. 10, 2020 IN COLUMBIA, S.C. SOUTH CAROLINA 70, UCONN 52:

After eight UConn wins, South Carolina finally beat the Huskies.

The Huskies only scored two points in the first quarter, a record low. Aliayah Boston altered many of the Huskies’ shots, as she controlled the game with nine rebounds and three steals during the first period.

UConn remained competitive thanks to Crystal Dangerfield, who scored a career-high of 25 points — practically half of the Huskies’ point total.

Tyasha Harris — who a freshman on South Carolina’s 2017 National Championship team — was 0-4 against UConn prior to this win. She led the Gamecocks with 19 points and recorded a double-double with a season-high of 11 assists.

“I see all the people who started before us, people who hadn’t beat UConn and I see how happy they are,” Harris said after the game.

FEB. 11, 2019 IN HARTFORD

UCONN 97, SOUTH CAROLINA 79: After the powerhouses competed in two close quarters, UConn controlled the third quarter and outscored South Carolina 29-12. The Huskies and the Gamecocks both scored 24 points in the final 10 minutes, so UConn’s assertiveness in the third secured an eighth straight victory over South Carolina.

Katie Lou Samuelson scored 14 points in the Huskies’ third quarter turnaround and finished with 29 total.

She was not the leading scorer though, as Napheesa Collier scored 31 points, with 16 rebounds and six assists.

These two seniors were the X factor in UConn’s win.

“I said this the other night, that every coach talks about their players as if they’re the best players ever,” Auriemma said following the game. “I don’t get caught up in that stuff. (But) there can’t be anywhere a player that’s playing better or does more for their team than Napheesa Collier does. That’s not possible. I haven’t seen every game, every week in every conference. There’s something about her that’s rare — you just don’t see it. You don’t see it at all.”

MARCH, 26, 2018 IN ALBANY

UCONN 94, SOUTH CAROLINA 65: This Elite Eight game marked the first time these two programs met in the NCAA Tournament. UConn had the most points scored in the school’s history during this round of the tournament.

Wilson led all scorers with 27 points, but her contribution was not enough to offset the offensive prowess of UConn.

The Huskies were hot from the jump, making 9 of 10 triples in the first half, this included Dangerfield’s perfect five-of-five from deep.

Crystal Dangerfield scored 19 of her 21 points in the first half, earning UConn a very comfortable 54-33 cushion heading into the half.

“Tonight, my teammates did a great job of finding me when I was open and I was able to knock those shots in early,” Dangerfield said after the game.

All five Husky starters finished in double figures: Williams led UConn with 23, Samuelson scored 17—on four of six shooting from beyond the arc—Napheesa Collier had 16, Nurse rounded it out with 11.

UConn would lose to Notre Dame in the national semifinal one game later.

FEB. 1, 2018 IN COLUMBIA, S.C. UCONN 83, SOUTH CAROLINA 58:

Seniors Nurse and Williams stepped up and led the Huskies to a decisive victory in a hostile environment.

Nurse had 23 points and Williams added 14 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Williams, the undersized forward, also guarded South Carolina’s 6-foot-5 All-American A’ja Wilson.

UConn rode a 13-0 first-half run to take control. Samuelson had 20 points while Collier added 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and five blocks.

FEB. 13, 2017 IN STORRS UCONN 66, SOUTH CAROLINA 55:

The majority of this contest went back and forth, but ultimately UConn remained poised down the stretch earning the Huskies their 100th straight victory.

Many UConn legends were present to witness the milestone win, including Sue Bird, Moore, Charles and Stewart, who was integral to many victories in the streak.

South Carolina had cut the deficit to 40-37 during the middle of the third quarter, but Williams finished two consecutive layups which sparked an 11-2 run to close the third. This stretch ended up being the difference in the game and sealed the win.

With Nurse dealing with a sore angle and others in foul trouble, Williams as UConn’s best player with 26 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. The win raised UConn’s record to 25-0 in a season when the Huskies were expected to fall back to earth after the loss of Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson.

South Carolina, though, would win its first NCAA title just two months later after UConn lost in overtime to Mississippi State in the national semifinals.

FEB. 8, 2016 IN COLUMBIA, S.C. UCONN 66, SOUTH CAROLINA 54:

UConn won its 60th straight game and handed South Carolina their first home loss since the Gamecocks fell to Texas A&M 50-48 on Feb. 10, 2013.

Breanna Stewart recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 25 points (three-of-four shooting from the perimeter) and 10 rebounds. She displayed incredibly impactful defense against South Carolina’s Wilson and Alaina Coates. This Gamecock duo combined for an average of 28 points that season, but only combined for 15 against UConn.

Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson both finished in double figures with 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Stewart would lead the Huskies to their fourth straight NCAA title and she would win her fourth straight NCAA Tournament MOP trophy that spring.

FEB. 9, 2015 IN STORRS UCONN 87, SOUTH CAROLINA 62:

In the first meeting in just over six years, No. 2 UConn gave No. 1 South Carolina their first defeat of the season. Everyone knew Stewart would lead UConn and she finished with 22 points on 7 of 14 shooting from the field and ended the night with five blocks. But she was not the Huskies leading scorer. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis shot 5-of-6 from the perimeter and had 23 points.

With a sellout crowd at Gampel Pavilion, it was an electric atmosphere as the teams met for the first time as top-ranked opponents.

The Final Four was in Tampa, but UConn would not see the Gamecocks as South Carolina lost to Notre Dame in the national semifinals. UConn would beat the Irish for the Huskies third title in a row.

DEC. 18, 2008 IN COLUMBIA, S.C. UCONN 77, SOUTH CAROLINA 48:

This game marked the first time that Staley would face fellow Philadelphia native Auriemma as UConn ran to another easy win during her first season in Columbia.

The Huskies went on an early 18-3 run — led by Tina Charles — to give UConn a cushion that carried them to the win.

Charles recorded a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds, Maya Moore scored 15 and Renee Montgomery finished the game with 13. This was the Huskies’ 11th straight victory on the way to their perfect season and ultimately the NCAA title.

DEC. 17, 2007 IN HARTFORD UCONN 97, SOUTH CAROLINA 39:

This was the first time the teams met and wound up being the largest margin of victory within the series. Charles easily recorded a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds while Ketia Swanier contributed 15 points to their triumph. Moore contributed by blocking five shots.

Despite the outcome, the Huskies were in somber spirits as forward Kalana Greene went down with a severe knee injury. Montgomery was in tears and Auriemma told reporters,”I don’t think anybody’s going to be crying for us, I think they’ll be crying for Kalana, but I don’t think anyone is going to feel sorry for us.”

This was before South Carolina hired Dawn Staley, as Susan Walvius was coaching the Gamecocks.