Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn’t even want a lot assist from famous person Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the nationwide title recreation, main the Huskies to a remarkably simple 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night time within the Remaining 4 of the ladies’s NCAA Match.
Sturdy completed with 22 factors and Fudd scored all of her 19 factors within the first half for the second-seeded Huskies, who’re one win away from their twelfth nationwide championship and first because the group gained 4 straight from 2013-16, led by Breanna Stewart. The eight-year title drought is the longest for the Huskies since they gained their first in 1995.
UConn will face defending champion South Carolina on Sunday for the title after the Gamecocks beat Texas 74-57 earlier Friday night time. It’s a rematch of the 2022 championship recreation, which the Gamecocks gained 64-49. The groups met in February and UConn shocked South Carolina with a 29-point highway victory.
Bueckers, the seemingly prime choose in subsequent month’s WNBA draft, completed with 16 factors after topping 30 in every of the earlier three video games for the Huskies (36-3).
All-America heart Lauren Betts scored 26 factors for prime total seed UCLA (34-3).
UConn bought off to a scorching begin with Sturdy and Fudd main the best way. Even when pictures appeared off, they discovered their approach in. Fudd, among the best shooters within the nation, banked in a 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing, prompting Auriemma to throw his arms within the air and smile.
The Huskies led 23-13 on the finish of the primary quarter. They continued the onslaught behind Fudd to open a 42-22 benefit on the break. Bueckers had the play of the half with a contact go within the air to Kaitlyn Chen for a layup late within the second quarter.
UCLA by no means threatened within the second half because the 6-foot-7 Betts had little assist.
The Bruins fell brief of their first look within the NCAA Remaining 4. UCLA gained a nationwide title in 1978 within the pre-NCAA period of girls’s basketball. The Bruins have been trying to turn into the primary group from the Large Ten, a convention they joined this season, to win a championship since Purdue did it in 1999.
UCLA cruised by means of its greatest common season, incomes the No. 1 rating within the AP High 25 for the primary time and holding the spot for 14 weeks.
The Bruins solely misplaced twice this yr earlier than Friday, each to JuJu Watkins and USC. UCLA bought a measure of revenge by beating USC to win the Large Ten Match in its first yr within the league after the dismantling of the Pac-12. The Bruins set a program document for wins in a season and gained 23 consecutive video games, together with 22 in a row by double digits.
Defending nationwide champion and No. 1 seed South Carolina returns to title recreation after rout of fellow No. 1 seed Texas
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