GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Paige Bueckers scored 29 points to help No.
2 UConn beat No. 14 North Carolina 69-58 on Friday night, allowing longtime coach Geno Auriemma to tie the record for career victories in Division I men’s or women’s basketball. The 70-year-old Auriemma, in his 40th season with the Huskies (3-0), earned his 1,216th career win to match retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.
Freshman Sarah Strong added 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for UConn. Indya Nivar had 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the Tar Heels (3-1), who shot 36% and made 7 of 24 3-pointers. NO.
3 SOUTHERN CAL 81, SANTA CLARA 50 LOS ANGELES (AP) — JuJu Watkins reached 1,000 career points in the second-fewest games in NCAA Division I history, scoring 20 points on Friday as No. 3 Southern California rolled to a victory over Santa Clara. Kiki Iriafen added 20 points for the Trojans (4-0), who never trailed.
Playing in her 38th game, Watkins needed 16 points to reach 1,000. She got there when she hit a jumper with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter. LSU’s Maree Jackson (1976-78), Oregon State’s Carol Menken (1979-81) and New Orleans’ Sandra Hodge (1981-84) all reached the mark in 37 games.
Weber State’s Kathy Miller and Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne also did it in 38 games. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, the leading scorer in Division I history, got to 1,000 points in 40 games. Kaya Ingram led Santa Clara (2-1) with 13 points and Olivia Pollerd added 12.
NO. 7 LSU 74, MURRAY STATE.