Paige Bueckers Looks Ready to Take UConn on Another Final Four Run

UConn made quick work of the Jackson State Lady Tigers in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament on Saturday afternoon. UConn cruised to 86-64 victory behind 28 points from Paige Bueckers, playing in her first NCAA Tournament game since the 2022 national championship.

The No. 3 seed Huskies jumped out to a 19-4 lead and never looked back. UConn led by 14 at the end of the first quarter and 21 going into halftime as Bueckers scored 19 first-half points. Bueckers made 11 of 19 field goals to go along with 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in a truly impressive performance. 

Bueckers missed the entire 2022-2023 season after she tore her ACL in August 2022. After missing basketball for a year, she was just happy to be able to play in UConn’s first game this season. She then scored 27 points in her next game and went on to average a career-high 21.3 points per game while leading the Huskies to another 30-win season. 

UConn will now face the winner of Syracuse-Arizona in the second round. The Huskies haven't won a national title since 2016, but got close during Bueckers’ freshman and sophomore seasons. Last year with Bueckers sidelined, UConn failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16, which was the earliest the school had been eliminated since 2005.

Stephen Douglas is a staff writer at The Big Lead.