PORTLAND, Ore. — Paige Bueckers is going back to the Final Four after scoring 28 points and leading UConn to a 80-73 victory over Southern California in the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday night, a year after being a spectator.
Bueckers outperformed USC's fabulous freshman All-American JuJu Watkins, sparking a decisive run in the final five minutes that sent third-seeded UConn (33-5) to its 23rd national semifinal, the highest among all schools. Holding a 65-64 lead, the Huskies scored 11 consecutive points, including seven from Bueckers and a three-point play from Aaliyah Edwards, to finally defeat the top-seeded Trojans (29-6).
UConn will play against Iowa and Caitlin Clark on Friday in Cleveland.
UCONN TAKES DOWN NO. 1 USC ????
Paige Bueckers (28 PTS) and the Huskies are Final Four bound ???? pic.twitter.com/mBi6oIDSQ4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 2, 2024
Edwards ended with 24 points, and this unexpected Final Four journey will be one of the most unlikely 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 to win their regional final, a year after their streak of 14 straight Final Four appearances was broken.
Bueckers was sidelined by a major knee injury last year when that streak ended. She was determined to get the Huskies back to that stage and accomplished it by making 11 of 23 shots, grabbing 10 rebounds, and providing six assists.
One day after the NCAA acknowledged that the 3-point line at one end of the court at Moda Center was 9 inches shorter than the other, the Trojans and Huskies competed on a corrected floor — although the incorrect line was still visible — with a spot in Cleveland at stake.
In the end, it was the Huskies celebrating, although it was a shaky finish. UConn missed six free throws in the final minute and allowed a 12-point lead to shrink to five.
Watkins concluded her freshman year with 29 points, but UConn made it challenging for her to get clear shots at the rim with regular double-teams and constant switching of defenders. It took Watkins about 15 minutes to score the eight points needed to surpass former San Diego State star Tina Hutchinson for the most by a freshman in NCAA history. Watkins’ 3-pointer at the top of the key midway through the second quarter secured her the record.
Watkins missed eight of her next nine shots, and UConn established a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter. USC made a comeback to tie the game at 59-59 with 7:21 left after five quick points from Watkins and McKenzie Forbes’ fourth 3-pointer of the game, but the Huskies pulled away at the end.
Forbes ended with 24 points and Rayah Marshall had 11 for the Trojans, who were aiming for their first Final Four appearance since 1986.
