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UConn guard Paige Bueckers reacts as the sport ends throughout an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, celebrates after a win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, hugs guard Nika Muhl after their win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, drives to the basket in opposition to Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, heart, in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn ahead Aaliyah Edwards, left, and guard Paige Bueckers have fun the win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn ahead Aaliyah Edwards (3) celebrates the win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) dribbles the ball as Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) defends in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma gestures to gamers in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Ashlynn Shade (12) shoots a 3-point shot in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Jenny Kane)
Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) helps UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) up in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) talks with an referee in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to UConn within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, heart, shoots as UConn ahead Ice Brady (25) defends in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn assistant coach Jamelle Elliott, left, and head coach Geno Auriemma, proper, react to a name in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) tries to dam Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
Southern California heart Rayah Marshall (13) seize a rebound in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to UConn within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
Gamers apply earlier than an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation between UConn and Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Tim Sales space)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers reacts as the sport ends throughout an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers reacts as the sport ends throughout an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, celebrates after a win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, celebrates after a win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, hugs guard Nika Muhl after their win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, hugs guard Nika Muhl after their win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, drives to the basket in opposition to Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, heart, in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers, proper, drives to the basket in opposition to Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, heart, in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn ahead Aaliyah Edwards, left, and guard Paige Bueckers have fun the win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn ahead Aaliyah Edwards, left, and guard Paige Bueckers have fun the win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn ahead Aaliyah Edwards (3) celebrates the win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn ahead Aaliyah Edwards (3) celebrates the win over Southern California in an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) dribbles the ball as Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) defends in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) dribbles the ball as Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) defends in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma gestures to gamers in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma gestures to gamers in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Ashlynn Shade (12) shoots a 3-point shot in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Jenny Kane)
UConn guard Ashlynn Shade (12) shoots a 3-point shot in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Jenny Kane)
Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) helps UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) up in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) helps UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) up in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) talks with an referee in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to UConn within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) talks with an referee in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to UConn within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, heart, shoots as UConn ahead Ice Brady (25) defends in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, heart, shoots as UConn ahead Ice Brady (25) defends in the course of the second half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn assistant coach Jamelle Elliott, left, and head coach Geno Auriemma, proper, react to a name in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn assistant coach Jamelle Elliott, left, and head coach Geno Auriemma, proper, react to a name in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Steve Dykes)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) tries to dam Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) tries to dam Southern California guard McKenzie Forbes (25) in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
Southern California heart Rayah Marshall (13) seize a rebound in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to UConn within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
Southern California heart Rayah Marshall (13) seize a rebound in the course of the first half of an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation in opposition to UConn within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Howard Lao)
Gamers apply earlier than an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation between UConn and Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Tim Sales space)
Gamers apply earlier than an Elite Eight faculty basketball recreation between UConn and Southern California within the girls’s NCAA Match, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Tim Sales space)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Caught as a spectator throughout final yr’s girls’s NCAA Match, Paige Bueckers didn’t waste a second this time. Each drive to the basket, each deflection on protection, each tumble to the ground was about doing every little thing doable to get UConn again to the Last 4.
Or, as Huskies coach Geno Auriemma put it, “At present was Paige doing Paige issues.”
Bueckers carried UConn to the nationwide semifinals, scoring 28 factors within the Huskies’ 80-73 victory over Southern California in a regional ultimate on Monday night time.
Bueckers outdueled fabulous USC freshman All-American JuJu Watkins, sparking a decisive run over the ultimate 5 minutes that despatched third-seeded UConn (33-5) to its twenty third nationwide semifinal, essentially the most of any college. Main 65-64, the Huskies scored 11 straight factors, together with seven from Bueckers and a three-point play from Aaliyah Edwards to lastly put away the top-seeded Trojans (29-6).
UConn will face Caitlin Clark and Iowa on Friday in Cleveland.
“At present was some of the rewarding emotions I’ve ever felt in my life,” Bueckers stated.
Edwards completed with 24 factors, and this Last 4 journey will rank as some of the unlikely in Auriemma’s 39-year tenure. Beset by accidents that left them with solely eight wholesome gamers — together with the lack of two starters — the Huskies managed minutes, fouls and exhaustion to win the Portland 3 Area a yr after seeing a string of 14 straight Last 4 appearances snapped.
“I believe our teaching employees needed to cope with an unlimited quantity of issues this yr that we by no means needed to cope with earlier than. I’m actually pleased with our employees,” Auriemma stated.
Bueckers was sidelined by a serious knee harm final yr when that streak ended. She reached the Last 4 as a freshman, when she was the nationwide participant of the yr, however she hasn’t performed a full season since due to accidents, despite the fact that she made it to the title recreation with UConn as a sophomore.
Bueckers sat out all of final season however is again and presumably higher than ever. On one of many greatest nights within the historical past of the ladies’s recreation, following an incredible efficiency by Clark in a win over LSU, Bueckers hit 11 of 23 photographs and completed with 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
“Now I’m right here with my teammates and training employees and going to the Last 4,” Bueckers stated. “It’s been a really rewarding journey. I’m tremendous, tremendous grateful for all of it. The powerful instances made me who I’m. It’s constructed my religion. It’s constructed my appreciation for all times and gratitude for something that will get thrown my approach.”
A day after the NCAA belatedly realized the 3-point line at one finish of the court docket at Moda Middle was 9 inches shorter than the opposite, the Trojans and Huskies performed on a corrected ground — albeit with the wrong line nonetheless seen — with the ultimate spot in Cleveland at stake.
And it was the Huskies celebrating on the finish, though it was a shaky end. UConn missed six free throws within the ultimate minute and let a 12-point lead dwindle down to 5.
“For essentially the most half, this was a extremely good basketball recreation they usually beat us,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb stated. “They did somewhat bit higher of what they do than we do.”
Watkins concluded her freshman yr by scoring 29 factors, however UConn made it troublesome for her to get clear seems to be on the rim with common double-teams and fixed switching of defenders. Watkins took about quarter-hour to attain the eight factors wanted to maneuver previous former San Diego State star Tina Hutchinson for essentially the most by a freshman in NCAA historical past. Watkins’ 3-pointer on the high of the important thing halfway via the second quarter gave her the report.
Watkins missed eight of her subsequent 9 photographs and UConn constructed a 12-point lead halfway via the third quarter. USC rallied to tug even at 59-59 with 7:21 left after 5 fast factors from Watkins and McKenzie Forbes’ fourth 3-pointer of the sport, however the Huskies pulled away late.
“(UConn) performed nice protection. Each time I received previous the primary line, somebody was there,” stated Watkins, who was in tears on the postgame dais.
Forbes completed with 24 factors and Rayah Marshall had 11 for the Trojans, who have been in search of their first Last 4 look since 1986.
“I don’t know Paige personally, however to see that child be out for 2 years and are available again and do that, as a lot damage as we’re in, they earned it, and I credit score them,” Gottlieb stated.
UConn and North Carolina State may play a Last 4 of their very own. Every college despatched its males’s and girls’s staff to the nationwide semifinals, the primary time in NCAA historical past that two colleges have performed that in the identical yr.
Contemplating the stage it’ll be performed on, the matchup between Bueckers and Clark will get much more consideration than dealing with Watkins within the Elite Eight. The 2 met within the Candy 16 in 2021, when each gamers have been freshmen; UConn gained 92-72.
AP March Insanity bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket/ and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Copyright 2024 The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.
