PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Paige Bueckers scored 28 points and led UConn to an 80-73 victory over Southern California in the women's NCAA Tournament on Monday night, securing her return to the Final Four after being a spectator last year.
Bueckers outperformed USC freshman All-American JuJu Watkins, igniting a crucial run in the last five minutes that propelled third-seeded UConn (33-5) to its 23rd national semifinal. The Huskies led 65-64 and then scored 11 consecutive points, with seven coming from Bueckers and a three-point play from Aaliyah Edwards, ultimately defeating the top-seeded Trojans (29-6).
UConn will compete against Iowa and Caitlin Clark on Friday in Cleveland.
Edwards ended with 24 points, and this Final Four journey will be one of the most unexpected in coach Geno Auriemma’s 39-year tenure. Despite being plagued by injuries that left them with only eight healthy players — including the loss of two starters — the Huskies managed minutes, fouls, and exhaustion to win their regional final after seeing a 14-year streak of Final Four appearances come to an end.
Bueckers was sidelined by a major knee injury last year when the streak was broken. She was resolute in getting the Huskies back to that stage and achieved it by making 11 of 23 shots, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out six assists.
A day after the NCAA realized that one end of the 3-point line at Moda Center was 9 inches shorter than the other, the Trojans and Huskies played on a corrected floor, although the incorrect line was still visible, with the final spot in Cleveland at stake.
Ultimately, it was the Huskies celebrating at the end, although the finish was unsteady. UConn missed six free throws in the final minute and saw a 12-point lead shrink to five.
Watkins completed her freshman year with 29 points, but UConn made it challenging for her to find clear scoring opportunities with frequent double-teams and constant defensive switches. Watkins took around 15 minutes to surpass former San Diego State star Tina Hutchinson for the most points by a freshman in NCAA history. Her 3-pointer at the top of the key midway through the second quarter secured the record.
Watkins missed eight of her next nine shots and UConn established a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter. USC staged a comeback to tie the game at 59-59 with 7:21 remaining after five quick points from Watkins and McKenzie Forbes’ fourth 3-pointer, but the Huskies pulled away at the end.
Forbes ended with 24 points and Rayah Marshall contributed 11 for the Trojans, who were aiming for their first Final Four appearance since 1986.
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Given the stage it will be played on, the matchup between Bueckers and Clark will attract even more attention than facing Watkins in the Elite Eight.
