The UConn Huskies defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks in a dominant 82-59 win at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday for a record 12th college women’s basketball championship. The Huskies are now the first Division I team with a dozen championships, all of which have come under head coach Geno Auriemma.
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong scored 24 points apiece, while senior guard Paige Bueckers addeded in 17 points in the win. The second-seeded Huskies (37-3) outshot the No. 1 Gamecocks (35-4) 48.4% to 34.4%. They led by as many as 32 points. Huskies coach Auriemma said after the game: “It’s amazing to have three people like that on the same team. You would think Sarah was graduating the way she plays. But all three of them complement each other so well.”
Bueckers, who is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft next month, will now turn pro after leading the Huskies to four Final Four appearances. Fudd, who made 9 of 17 shots, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Strong, who collected 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks, finished the tournament with 114 points, an NCAA record for a freshman.
Bueckers also became the Huskies’ all-time leader in career points in the NCAA tournament. Over her four-year decorated career with the Huskies, Bueckers scored 477 points in the tournament – the third-most in history, trailing only Caitlin Clark and Chamique Holdsclaw.
Editorial credit: fitzcrittle / Shutterstock.com
