HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Aaliyah Edwards scored 23 points and Paige Bueckers made her long-awaited return from injury as No. 2 UConn opened its season Wednesday with a 102-58 rout of Dayton.
It was Bueckers’ first game since the Huskies loss to South Carolina in the 2022 National Championship. She scored eight points in 21 minutes while on a coach-imposed minutes restriction. She also had seven rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Azzi Fudd had 13 points for UConn. Aubrey Griffin added 12, Qadence Samuels scored 11 and Nika Muhl and Caroline Ducharme each added 10.
Ivy Wolf had 16 points to lead Dayton. The Flyers are coached by former UConn star Tamika Williams-Jeter, who won two national titles playing for the Huskies in 2000 and 2002
NO. 16 NORTH CAROLINA 102, GARDNER-WEBB 49
CHAPLE HILL, N.C. (AP) — Indya Nivar had 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead a trio of transfers with impressive debuts and North Carolina beat Gardner-Webb in the season opener for both teams.
Joining Nivar with a double-double was Alyssa Ustby, who had 12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals.
Lexi Donarski, a graduate transfer from Iowa State, and Maria Gakdeng, a junior who came from Boston College, scored 14 and 13 points, respectively. All five North Carolina starters scored in double figures with Deja Kella adding 14. Sophomore Paulina Paris had 15 points off the bench.
Micahia Funderburk led the Bulldogs with 16 points and Ashley Hawkins had 14.
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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
