STORRS, CT (WFSB) – Paige Bueckers played like the All American she has been since she stepped on the UConn campus.
Bueckers with 20 points in the first half, finished with 32 as the third seeded UConn Huskies defeated 6th seed Syracuse 72-64.
UConn now advances to the Sweet Sixteen in the Portland 3 Regional and will meet 7th seeded Duke on Saturday.
The Huskies and Orange got off to a torrid pace in the first quarter as the Huskies managed an 18-16 lead.
Bueckers and the Huskies got hot in the second quarter. Paige finishing with 20 in the first half, UConn lead 39-28 at the break.
Syracuse and Dyaisha Fair got going in the third, cutting the UConn lead to four. However the Huskies closed the quarter on a 10-6 run to lead by 9 going into the fourth quarter.
UConn saw a 10 point fourth quarter lead nearly evaporate as the Orange cut it to 2 after Nika Muhl fouled out of the game. But Paige Bueckers stepped up with a 15 footer and Freshman KK Arnold with a huge 3 pointer helped the Huskies hold on for the victory 72-64.
Bueckers finished the game 32 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Aaliyah Edwards had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Ashlyn Shade had 19 points hitting 5 of 9 3 pointers.
Fair dropped 20pts in her final game at Syracuse. UConn advances to the Sweet 16 for the 31st consecutive season. The Huskies have defeated Syracuse 27 straight times.
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Where to find it
The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Subscribers to ESPN+ will be able to stream it on the network’s app.
Radio listeners will be able to find it on the UConn Sports Network from Learfield, FOX Sports 97-9.
Those looking to attend the game itself were out of luck. The university announced Monday afternoon that it was sold out.
A watch party was planned at Kinsmen Brewing Company in Southington.
How they got there
UConn is 30-2 all time in NCAA Tournament second round matchups. It has also won 29 straight second round games.
The Huskies bested Jackson State, 86-64, in the first round. Junior Paige Bueckers put up 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out seven assists and snatched three steals.
Freshman Ashlynn Shade had a career high 26 points, the most scored by a Husky in their NCAA Tournament debut.
Senior Aaliyah Edwards recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Syracuse led for just 2:05 in its 74-69 win over 11th-seeded Arizona in its first round game.
Dyaisha Fair, one of the top scorers in the nation at 22.3 points per game, led the Orange with 32 points.
What’s next
The winner advances to the Sweet 16 to take on Duke on March 30.
Students and fans at Gampel
Nine hours before tipoff, UConn sophomore Jackson Crainich sat on the cold hard steps outside Gampel. He opened his laptop and tried to pass time.
“I’ve been showing out every game. Here early every day,” said Jackson.
He was hoping to grab a seat in the front row of the student section.
“It means everything, basketball is a way of life here at UConn. It’s the basketball capital of the world for a reason,” Jackson said.
Luckily Jackson was not alone.
His friend Molly, a pre-med student, was also camping out. A few feet away were freshmen Kylie and Kaylee.
Everyone was bundled up with hoodies, coats, and blankets.
“We came at like 9 in the morning we decided to do this because it’s the last game at Gampel so we’re trying to get front row, get some high fives hopefully after a win,” said Kaylee.
A spot in the Sweet 16 is on the line.
It’s the last game Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl will play at Gampel.
Meanwhile, the UConn men are off to Boston later this week.
Students will be competing for tickets to see the Huskies against San Diego State, a rematch of last year’s championship game.
UConn has been allocated tickets. A lottery Monday to decide who gets to go for free, and who might have to pay top dollar to see the huskies at TD Garden.
“The men winning last year the vibe on campus was insane and it lasted the entire rest of the year so I’m excited for sure,” Molly said.
Stay with Channel 3 for continuing coverage of UConn’s march toward a championship.
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