Saniya Rivers and NC State stun No. 2 UConn with 92-81 upset win

NC State shocked Geno Auriemma and Paige Beukers on Sunday afternoon with a remarkable win.

The thrilling game saw the Wolfpack rally back from a nine-point deficit to defeat No. 2 UConn 92-81, marking the second shocking upset of the college basketball season. This victory was particularly significant for NC State, as it was their first win over UConn since the NCAA tournament in 1998.

UConn had a strong start with an 11-4 run, taking an early nine-point lead. However, the Wolfpack bounced back spectacularly in the second period, opening with a 14-5 run and tying the game before halftime.

The turning point came in the fourth quarter when NC State pulled away with a 13-4 streak. Although UConn attempted a comeback, it was not enough to prevent the Huskies from suffering an 11-point defeat.

Paige Bueckers led UConn with 27 points, followed by Aaliyah Edwards with 21 points, but they were the only UConn players to score in double digits. Meanwhile, Saniya Rivers led NC State with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Rivers’ outstanding performance made her the first player in the last 25 seasons to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game against UConn.

The stunning upset not only solidified NC State’s prowess but also shattered UConn’s dominance early in the season, making way for other teams like Iowa to potentially claim the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll.