The UNC women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome a 26-point outing from UConn star Paige Bueckers on Sunday, as the No. 17 Huskies topped Carolina 76-64 at the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, CT.

Bueckers’ scoring came on a wickedly efficient 11-14 shooting day. The future WNBA lottery pick scored on whoever UNC head coach Courtney Banghart put on her, including former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Iowa State transfer Lexi Donarski. For her part, Donarski scored 12 points and was one of five Tar Heels in double figures, but no one on Carolina was able to match Bueckers’ brilliance.

Banghart only played seven players on the day, as guards Kayla McPherson and Paulina Paris both sat out for the second straight game. Forward Teonni Key, who has been dealing with a lower-body injury, dressed for the first time all season but did not play. The roster got even thinner when Reniya Kelly took a blow to the face late in the first half and was held out after halftime.

It was a serious blow to UNC, as Kelly had led a strong second-quarter run which saw Carolina completely erase an 11-point Husky lead and nose in front by two. The game went to the half tied at 36-36. Kelly ended her day with six points and three assists. Her +7 plus-minus rating made her the only Tar Heel with a positive rating on the day.

UConn took advantage of Kelly’s absence in the second half, opening the third quarter on an 11-0 run, then using a 10-0 run later in the period to lead by as many as 16. UNC cut that lead down to as little as eight in the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

The loss drops Carolina to 6-4 on the season. The Tar Heels will be back in action on December 15 when they host Western Carolina in Carmichael Arena at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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