UConn routes Oklahoma to cruise into Elite 8


Mar 29, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) shoots towards Oklahoma Sooners guard Reyna Scott (2) throughout the second half of a Candy 16 NCAA Match basketball recreation at Spokane Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: James Snook-Imagn Photographs

Paige Bueckers exploded for 29 of her career-high 40 factors within the second half as No. 2-seeded UConn dominated the ultimate 20 minutes to blow out No. 3 Oklahoma 82-59 in Saturday’s Spokane Area 1 Candy 16 matchup in Spokane, Wash.

Bueckers’ 40 factors additionally set the UConn program report for essentially the most in an NCAA Match recreation.

The Huskies (34-3) went on a 16-4 run popping out of intermission, flipping a four-point deficit into an eight-point lead in lower than 5 minutes. Bueckers bookended the spurt with a pair of leap photographs, together with a 3-pointer proper out of the break that was arrange by a Jana El Alfy offensive board and Azzi Fudd help.

The rebound was one in every of 9 for El Alfy, and Fudd’s help was one in every of 5. Bueckers, in the meantime, kick-started a stellar second half for herself.

She shot 12-of-16 from the ground after halftime, together with 5-of-6 from 3-point distance. Bueckers completed 6-of-8 from lengthy vary for the sport and 16-of-27 from the sector general.

The All-American additionally grabbed six rebounds, swiped three steals and blocked a pair of photographs. Bueckers’ new career-high comes one recreation after she matched her earlier private better of 34 factors in UConn’s second-round win over South Dakota State.

Oklahoma (27-8) — which constructed its first-half lead efficiently taking part in from inside-out, scoring 18 factors within the paint by halftime then getting 9 of Payton Verhulst’s 13 first-half factors on 3-pointers — had no solutions within the second 20 minutes.

The Sooners shot simply 7-of-28 within the second half and dedicated 10 turnovers that UConn became 10 factors.

After coughing up 9 first-half turnovers, the Huskies dedicated just one turnover within the second half.

Ashlynn Shade had 12 factors for UConn, Fudd added 10 factors and Sarah Robust recorded an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double regardless of capturing solely 4-of-13 from the ground.

Verhulst led Oklahoma with 16 factors, whereas Raegan Beers recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.

The win sends UConn to a 3rd straight Elite Eight, the place the Huskies face the winner of No. 1 Southern California and No. 5 Kansas State. A dream matchup between Bueckers and fellow Participant of the 12 months candidate JuJu Watkins of USC is to not be, nevertheless, after Watkins sustained a season-ending knee harm within the second spherical towards Mississippi State.

–Subject Stage Media



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