UConn suffers first-ever loss to Longhorns

AUSTIN, TEXAS — UConn women’s basketball star guard Paige Bueckers grabbed the defensive rebound and turned to begin dribbling up court.

But after a couple dribbles, she slipped and lost control of the ball. Texas was quick to grab the ball, making the easy, uncontested lay up to increase its lead to 17 halfway through the third quarter.

It was a window into of just how disoriented the Huskies are playing without two of its top shooters.

The result: No. 11 UConn fell at No. 10 Texas Sunday afternoon 80-68.

The loss marks UConn’s first-ever to Texas (the series now at 10-1) and the 10th time since Feb. 2020 that UConn has lost in a series against an opponent for the first time after most recently falling to UCLA for the first time in the Cayman Islands Classic.

It also puts UConn’s spot in the AP Top 15 at stake. The Huskies haven’t dropped lower than No. 12 (Week 10 in 2021-22) since being ranked No. 14 in Week 16 of the 2004-05 season.

The Huskies (4-3) had 10 available players Sunday. They were missing Caroline Ducharme (who did not make the trip to Texas due to neck spasms) and are still adjusting to being without Azzi Fudd (knee) for the rest of the year, but Sunday’s game revealed more issues than just personnel.

Bueckers (13 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals) and senior Aaliyah Edwards (22 points, six rebounds, three assists) led UConn. Longhorns star Rori Harmon led all players with 27 points and 13 assists.

But UConn needed more production from more players.

The Huskies gave up 36 points off 21 turnovers. Texas also had more offensive rebounds (16) than

UConn (5).

The Longhorns (9-0) started the game hot, making their first seven shots and led 8-0 before Geno Auriemma called an early timeout less than three minutes into the game. Texas’ defense was quick to smother the Huskies with its length and physicality.

Where Texas was making every shot, including 3 of 3 from deep, UConn was just 1 of 4 from the floor and had already given up five points off two turnovers.

Harmon led the Longhorns charge and was too quick for UConn to keep up with on defense. It didn’t help that Texas went into a full-court press after nearly every timeout.

UConn went over four and-a-half minutes without a field goal to end the first quarter. Bueckers’ five points and Edwards’ 7 made up 13 of the team’s total 15 at the break while Texas led by eight.

And the second quarter was almost no different. UConn cut a 12-point lead to as low as six, yet the Huskies couldn't escape the whistle (UConn ended with 20 fouls) and got into early foul trouble. Heading into halftime, each of the seven UConn players who played had at least one foul, with four getting called for two each.

UConn had as many fouls (11) as it had turnovers at intermission. The Huskies looked out of sorts on both ends of the floor. Not only were passes rushed and thrown out of bounds, but the Huskies also weren't communicating. At one point on defense, both Brady and KK Arnold went after a loose ball. The two collided and tipped the ball out of bounds, giving Texas back the possession.

UConn trailed on the boards 20-14, including 17-4 on offensive rebounds entering the third quarter. Texas led by as much as 14, thanks to 17 points of UConn's turnovers.

And despite the halftime break, UConn's poor play only continued.

The Huskies lost the ball 20 seconds into the third for their 12th turnover of the night. Their 13th came about 30 seconds later. Another came a minute later as the Longhorn's press stole off an inbound pass from the Huskies.

Bueckers grabbed a defensive rebound halfway through the quarter, but she slipped dribbling up court, losing control of the ball. The Longhorn's Shaylee Gonzales was quick to grab the ball and passed to Harmon who assisted Faye Khadija on the easy layup. Auriemma called timeout to try to get his players back in rhythm.

The Huskies closed the third quarter with more turnovers (17) than made field goals (16).

UConn used a 11-0 run three minutes into the fourth to get within 11 of Texas as head coach Vic Schaefer called timeout.

A 3-pointer from freshman Ashlynn Shade shrunk Texas' lead to nine, however; the Huskies got caught traveling on their very next possession. Another 3 from fellow freshman Qadence Samuels got UConn within seven, yet she got called for her third personal foul immediately following on defense. With 1:42 left, Arnold got the Huskies within six, but an offensive foul by Nika Muhl with 51 seconds shutdown the comeback attempt.

UConn returns to Connecticut to host Ball State on Wednesday in Storrs (7 p.m. on SNY). The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Muhl as her younger sister, Hana, is a sophomore with the Cardinals. Muhl's parents will be making the trip from Croatia to Storrs for the game.