A Sweet 16

UConn routs Syracuse on Auriemma’s birthday as coach watches from home

UCONN 83 SYRACUSE 47

SAN ANTONIO — Even in a season of unpredictability, the UConn women’s basketball team is carving a familiar path through the NCAA Tournament.

The Huskies are back in the Sweet 16. Of course they are.

UConn, adaptable and able to evolve, picked apart eighth-seeded Syracuse in Tuesday’s Round of 32 game, rolling to an 83-47 victory at the Alamodome.

The Huskies, the No. 1 seed in the River Walk region, were balanced and efficient. Four players hit double figures, led by 20 points from freshman Paige Bueckers, 16 in the first half. Fellow freshman Aaliyah Edwards, who started in place of the injured Nika Muhl, added 19 points. Junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa contributed 17 points and eight boards and Christyn Williams scored 11.

UConn will face fifthseeded Iowa on Saturday or Sunday.

Associate head coach Chris Dailey, in her 36th year at UConn, improved to 12-0 running the team in Geno Auriemma’s absence. Auriemma, who turned 67 on Tuesday, is scheduled to fly to Texas Wednesday to rejoin the team after isolating following a positive COVID-19 test earlier this month. They also remained without assistant Shea Ralph, who returned home last week after a member of her family was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The Huskies (26-1) were also without Muhl, who sprained her right ankle

during Sunday’s first-round victory over 16th-seeded High Point. Muhl, who was wearing a walking boot on the bench, had started the previous 14 games.

Syracuse’s 2-3 zone gave UConn some problems early, as did the size and length of the 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso, but the Huskies eventually found their footing.

The Huskies led 19-14 after one quarter, then closed the half on an 11-3

run to go up 41-26.

They wound up shooting a healthy 55%, collecting 16 assists on 27 field goals.

Cardoso and guard Emily Engstler led the Orange with 12 points apiece.

Carmen Mandato / Getty Images UConn’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa grabs a rebound against Syracuse’s Kamilla Cardoso and Digna Strautmane (45) in the first half during the second round of the NCAA tournament at the Alamodome on Tuesday in San Antonio.