Paige Bueckers is in a class by herself in the Big East, becoming the first player to win the most outstanding player of the conference tournament three times.

“It’s very cool and hard to do something that’s never been done at UConn before,” Bueckers said after a 70-50 win over Creighton on Monday night in the conference championship game.

It was the 23rd Big East tournament title for the Huskies, including five straight since they rejoined the conference in 2021.

Now, UConn’s star will try and cap off her illustrious career with an NCAA championship — a feat that has eluded her.

“You work entirely for this moment, to shine in March, to play your best basketball in the most important part of the season,” Bueckers said.

The third-ranked Huskies have been playing their best over the last month. They haven’t lost since Feb. 6 at Tennessee, winning every game since by at least 19 points, including a 29-point victory at South Carolina.

Bueckers, the expected No. 1 pick in next month’s WNBA draft, knows her time at the school is coming to a close.

“It’s meant everything. It’s been a dream since I was a kid. It’s been everything I could dream of,” Bueckers said. “The support, the best fans in the country. They travel everywhere. The love and support I feel and this whole team feels, it’s been a blessing and I can’t be grateful enough.”

Oregon State 59, Portland 46 >> Catarina Ferreira finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds and Oregon State wrapped up its first season in the West Coast Conference with a tournament championship, ending two-time defending champion Portland’s 13-game win streak.

Green Bay 76, Purdue Fort Wayne 63 >> Natalie McNeal scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds as top-seeded Green Bay beat No. 2 seed Purdue Fort Wayne to claim back-to-back Horizon League Tournament championships.

Men

Gonzaga 58, Saint Mary’s (Ca) 51 >> Braden Huff scored 18 points and Gonzaga avenged two regular-season losses to Saint Mary’s, beating the 19th-ranked Gaels in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship.

The Bulldogs (25-8) secured the WCC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though both teams were safely in the field regardless of the outcome.

UNC Wilmington 76, Delaware 72 >> Donovan Newby had 17 points, Noah Ross scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half and UNC Wilmington denied No. 12 seed Delaware a historic end to the tournament with a victory in the Coastal Athletic Association championship game.

Robert Morris 89, Youngstown State 78 >> Josh Omojafo scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Robert Morris beat Youngstown State to claim the Horizon League Tournament championship and clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

St. Francis (PA) 46, Central Connecticut State 43 >> Daemar Kelly hit a go-ahead jumper with nine seconds left and Chris Moncrief made 1 of 2 free throws after he stole the ball to help St. Francis (Pa.) stun top-seeded Central Connecticut State to win the Northeastern Conference Tournament championship.