SPOKANE, Wash. — Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 40 points, rescuing UConn from its first-half doldrums and single-handedly turning a tight game against Oklahoma into an 82-59 rout Saturday that sent the Huskies to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA tournament.
With the Huskies trailing 36-33 at the break, Bueckers took control, outscoring the Sooners 29-23 in the second half to become the first UConn women’s player to score 40 in an NCAA tournament game. The likely No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft eclipsed her previous career best of 34 points, set Monday in UConn’s second-round victory over South Dakota State, her final home game at Gampel Pavilion.
Bueckers matched her career high with six 3-pointers, the last two during a personal 10-0 run in the fourth quarter. Bueckers checked out of the game with 3:06 left and UConn ahead 80-51.
Her 74 points over the past two games are the second most in a two-game span in the NCAA tournament over the past 25 years, trailing only Caitlin Clark’s 82 points for Iowa in the 2023 Elite Eight and Final Four, according to ESPN Research.
“That was as good a game as I’ve seen her play the whole time she’s been here, at the most important time,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “When you’re a senior and you’ve been around as long as she has, this is what you’re here to do. This is why you came here.”
The second-seeded Huskies (34-3), winners of 13 straight, will face USC in a regional final Monday. The Trojans beat Kansas State 67-61 in their Sweet 16 matchup Saturday.
Ashlynn Shade added 12 points and Sarah Strong had 11 points and 11 rebounds for UConn, which is seeking to extend its record by winning a 12th national title. The Huskies reached their fourth Elite Eight in the past five years, but Auriemma’s team hasn’t won it all since 2016.
“Honestly, we just wanted to keep our season going as long as possible,” Bueckers said. “We all love playing together. We love playing here. We just love this program.”
Payton Verhulst scored 16 points for third-seeded Oklahoma (27-8), which was playing its first Sweet 16 game since 2013. The Sooners have never beaten the Huskies in a series that includes the 2002 national title game.
Bueckers took UConn to the Final Four last season, where it lost to eventual champion South Carolina.
With her 40-point effort, Bueckers surpassed Tina Charles for fourth place on UConn’s career scoring list.
The playmaking guard from Minnesota with the signature French braids arrived at UConn in 2020 and was the consensus national player of the year as a freshman. But her next two seasons were derailed because of injuries. She sat out the 2022-23 campaign with a torn ACL.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
