South Carolina vs UConn prediction for Dawn Staley vs Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers

COLUMBIA — South Carolina women’s basketball is hosting UConn for a top 10 non-conference matchup

Both the No. 4 Gamecocks (22-2) and No. 7 Huskies (23-3), who first met on Dec. 17, 2007, are coming off wins heading into Sunday (1 p.m., ABC). ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be here to highlight the matchup, beginning with coverage at 11 a.m. from Colonial Life Arena.

South Carolina is 2-3 at home against UConn, including a win last season. The Gamecocks are 5-9 in the all-time series but have won the last four.

In 2022, they beat the Huskies to win their second national championship. UConn coach Geno Auriemma has 14 national titles and is the winningest NCAA basketball coach.

Here’s what you need to know about the matchup.

Paige Bueckers leads UConn’s bevy of scorers

Paige Bueckers, who is expected to go No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is leading the Huskies with 18.7 points per game. The 6-foot guard is averaging 4.4 assists per game and shooting 53.6% from the field.

She had 16 points, six rebounds, four steals and five blocks against St. John’s on Wednesday. She does it all for UConn and is one of the best two-way players in women’s college basketball.

Bueckers had 20 points against South Carolina on Feb. 11, 2024, in Columbia.

Similar to South Carolina, UConn has three outliers in terms of points per game in Bueckers, Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, but gets equal contribution from the bulk of its roster. Both teams have six players who are averaging between four and eight points per game, with three averaging above 10.

UConn’s Sarah Strong vs South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards

Two of the top three players from the class of 2024 will share the court on Sunday. UConn freshman Sarah Strong was ranked the No. 1 player in the class of 2024 by ESPN. South Carolina star forward Joyce Edwards, who was No. 3.

Strong has been playing more of a center role so she might be a direct matchup for Sania Feagin but it will be a battle for two of nation’s most talented freshmen. Strong is averaging 16.1 points and 7.8 rebounds and Edwards is averaging a team-high 12.3 points and 4.7 rebounds.

UConn loves to shoot 3-pointers and force turnovers

The Huskies have depth when it comes to 3-point shooting. Fudd is shooting a team-high 47.1% from behind the arc, with Ashlynn Shade right behind with 42.2% and Bueckers third with 41.7%.

Against St. John’s, Fudd had 34 points and hit eight 3-pointers.

What makes Strong so dynamic is she can also shoot the 3-pointer, and she’s made 39 this season.

South Carolina lost to Texas without the Longhorns hitting a single 3-pointer.

On defense, the Huskies like to force turnovers like South Carolina. UConn is averaging 19.12 turnovers per game compared to South Carolina who is forcing 17.29.

Dawn Staley vs Geno Auriemma history

Staley was not with the Gamecocks in 2007 when these teams first faced off. She took her first loss to Auriemma in her first season with South Carolina, falling 77-44 at home on Dec. 28, 2008. UConn won the next six games and it wasn’t until 2020 when the Gamecocks won 70-52 at home.

The Gamecocks lost the next year in overtime in Storrs, and have since won the last four meetings.

Staley is 5-8 against Auriemma.

South Carolina vs UConn injury updates

South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins is out for the season after tearing her ACL
UConn is without Ayanna Patterson due to a season-ending injury. Caroline Ducharme, who hasn’t played in a game since November 2023, is out indefinitely. Ice Brady is out for several weeks with a shoulder injury.