Bueckers carries UConn past USC to Final Four
No. 3 UConn toppled No. 1 Southern Cal to return to the Final Four on April 1 in Portland, Oregon.
Paige Bueckers had her careerhigh seventh consecutive 20-point game, finishing with 28 points and 10 rebounds, as the Huskies beat the Trojans 80-73.
For the Trojans, phenom JuJu Watkins broke Tina Hutchinson’s record for most points by a freshman in a single season in women’s college basketball history. She had 29 points and 10 boards.
The teams battled the entire matchup, but Connecticut, which has limited depth because of injuries, took its first lead in the second quarter and was able to maintain control.
The Huskies will face Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa in the Final Four.
Southern California went on an 11-3 run to close out the third quarter and close Connecticut’s lead to 5551. But there was simply too much Bueckers.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma didn’t know he caused a social media scene recently when he called her “the best player in America.”
“I bet if you asked USC they wouldn’t say Caitlin is the best player in the country,” Auriemma said last week. “I bet if you asked LSU they wouldn’t say Caitlin is the best player in the country. I bet you Texas wouldn’t say that.”
On April 1, he said the statement was in good fun.
“I hope Caitlin Clark had a personal agenda against LSU,” Auriemma said after Clark dropped 41 on defending champion LSU.
“I know there’s nothing personal between me and her, I don’t need her dropping 50 on us next week,” Auriemma deadpanned before laughing along with reporters. “Forget I ever said Paige was the best player in America.”