Paige Bueckers scores career-high 40 to lead one-woman rout for UConn over Oklahoma
The electrifying senior guard matched her career high with six 3-pointers before checking out of the game with 3:06 left and UConn ahead, 80-51.
We can't get enough of this duo 🔥
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB)
The second-seeded Huskies (34-3) have now won 13 straight.
Ashlyn 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 coach Geno Auriemma's team hasn't won it all since 2016.
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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.
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Bueckers took UConn to the Final Four last season, where it lost to eventual champion South Carolina.
The Sooners jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The Huskies' first points came on Bueckers' 3-pointer just over three minutes into the game, which touched off a 11-0 UConn run. The Huskies led 17-12 after the opening quarter.
Verhulst hit a deep 3-pointer to put the Sooners back on top, 24-23. She added a jumper and another 3 to extend the lead to 29-23. Verhulst had 13 points in the second quarter.
Reyna Scott's 3 sent the Sooners into the break with a four-point lead.
Bueckers clearly did not not want her collegiate career to end, scoring with eight points early in the third quarter to put the Huskies ahead.
Her fast-break layup stretched the lead to 48-40 and the Huskies controlled the game from there, leading by 59-46 heading into the final quarter.
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She added a deep 3 that gave UConn a 62-46 lead and put the game out of reach for Oklahoma.
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