Bueckers helps UConn reach the Elite Eight

NCAA WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT

Paige Bueckers, center, scored 40 points in UConn’s victory over Oklahoma. The Huskies next go against USC. STEPH CHAMBERS — GETTY IMAGES

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Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 40 points, rescuing second-seeded UConn from its first-half doldrums and single-handedly turning a tight game against No. 3 Oklahoma into an 82-59 rout on Saturday that sent the Huskies to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

UConn (34-3) will face No. 1 USC on Monday in the Spokane Regional 4 final.

Bueckers had 29 points after halftime for the Huskies, who trailed 36-33 at the break. The likely No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft eclipsed her previous career best of 34 points, set Monday in UConn’s second-round victory over South Dakota State, her final home final game at Gampel Pavilion.

Ashlyn Shade added 12 points and Sarah Strong had 11 points and 11 rebounds for UConn.

Payton Verhulst scored 16 points for third-seeded Oklahoma (27-8).

USC 67, Kansas State 61 >> Kennedy Smith stepped into the void left by injured star JuJu Watkins, scoring 19 points to help the top-seeded Trojans hold off the fifth-seeded Wildcats in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

USC (31-3) was considered title contenders before Watkins tore her right ACL during a second-round victory over Mississippi State. Now the Trojans will be underdogs in an Elite Eight game against second-seeded UConn.

Serena Sundell scored 22 points for Kansas State (28-8).

Birmingham Regional 3

Texas 67, Tennessee 59 >> Madison Booker scored 17 points and the No. 1-seeded Longhorns outlasted the fifth-seeded Volunteers in a tight battle in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Taylor Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds for Texas. Texas advanced to face TCU in the Elite Eight.

Booker scored seven in the fourth, including four straight with the game tied at 54 with five minutes left. The Volunteers pulled back within one on a jumper from Ruby Whitehorn, who led Tennessee with 16 points.

TCU 71, Notre Dame 62 >> Hailey Van Lith scored 12 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter to help the second-seeded Horned Frogs beat defeat the No. 3-seeded Fighting Irish in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Sedona Prince added 21 points for TCU (34-3). The Horned Frogs advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

With the game tied at 52 early in the fourth, Van Lith took over. She scored five of the next six points for TCU to give the team the lead. Every run that the Fighting Irish made, Van Lith and the Horned Frogs had an answer.

Notre Dame (28-6) was trying to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019.

Liatu King scored 17 points for the Irish. Hannah Hidalgo had 15 and Olivia Miles finished with 10. But the star backcourt was a combined 6 for 29 from the field.