NFL
By: Ty Reeves
The No. 3 UConn Huskies lost their first game of the season to No. 19 Arkansas in a game that went down to the wire. Chelsea Dungee led the way for the Razorbacks scoring 37 points to lead all scorers in the game. The Huskies were led by freshman star Paige Bueckers who scored 27 points in the loss.
Arkansas takes down No. 3 UConn in a high-scoring classic tonight ??
Chelsea Dungee led all scorers with 37 points in the 90-87 win. Paige Bueckers led UConn with 27 in the loss @paigebueckers1 @chelsea_dungee @HighlightHER pic.twitter.com/j849GeFY8C
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) January 29, 2021
Arkansas opened up the game going on an 8-2 run that saw Amber Ramirez and Dungee each knocking down a 3-pointer. The Huskies would get within two points, thanks to guard Christyn Williams who scored a trifecta of shots to the Huskies back into the game. The Huskies would then take the lead when Evina Westbrook knocked down two 3-pointers and Bueckers converted a tough layup while being fouled. The Huskies would go on to take a 22-18 lead into the second.
In the second quarter, both teams traded buckets back and forth. Dungee and Ramirez continued to lead the way for the Hogs while UConn freshman Aaliyah Edwards came off the bench and made an instant impact for the Huskies. With big three’s by Ramirez and Makayla Daniels would take a 28-26 lead with 6:31 left in the half. The Huskies would continue to battle and with 5 seconds left in half, sophomore forward Aubrey Griffin knocked down a 3-pointer to give UConn a 43-41 advantage at the half.
At the start of the third quarter, it was all Arkansas. On the back of Dungee, the Hogs went on an 11-0 run to go up 9 points halfway through the quarter. The Razorbacks would then take a commanding 58-47 lead after Dungee knocked down two 3-pointers. UConn would fight their way back into the game as Bueckers and freshman Mir Mclean would knock down back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to five. Guard Evina Westbrook would add by scoring a clutch layup while being fouled. However, Amber Ramirez would hit a deep three for the Hogs with 5 seconds remaining in the half to give Arkansas a 72-62 lead going into the fourth quarter. Forward Aaliyah Edwards would foul out for the Huskies in the final minute of the quarter.
The fourth quarter would start off as a back and forth contest. Led by the Bueckers, the Huskies would claw their way back into the game. Westbrook then nailed a 3-pointer giving UConn a 79-77 lead with 5:30 remaining in the game. Dungee and Ramirez then turned the momentum back in Arkansas’s favor, leading them on a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter. Down by eight, the Huskies would not go away as Bueckers hit back to back three’s to bring UConn within five. Then, after an Arkansas miss, Williams would make a layup drawing the foul to bring the Huskies within three. Williams would then go onto miss the free-throw, which led to an Arkansas timeout. After an Arkansas miss, the Huskies would grab the defensive rebound. Westbrook would have one last look off the UConn inbounds play as she heaved up the three-pointer. The shot was off the mark, and the Razorbacks would prevail over the Huskies 90-87.
NO. 19 ARKANSAS TOOK DOWN NO. 3 UCONN ? pic.twitter.com/CImGyoDoky
— espnW (@espnW) January 29, 2021
Dungee led the way with 37 points for Arkansas while Bueckers scored 27 for the Huskies. Bueckers point total saw her pass Breanna Stewart for the most points scored by a freshman, through the first 10 games of their careers.
