Bueckers, UConn cruise to win over SDSU

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

Career high-tying 34 points sends Huskies to Sweet 16

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Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers reacts during the first half against South Dakota State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday in Storrs, Conn. JESSICA HILL — ASSOCIATED PRESS

Southern Cal star JuJu Watkins grabs her knee after an injury against Mississippi State during Monday’s second round of the NCAA Tournament at Galen Center in Los Angeles. Watkins had to be helped off the court and didn’t return. RONALD MARTINEZ — GETTY IMAGES

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Paige Bueckers matched her career high with 34 points in her home finale, and second-seeded UConn reached its 31st straight Sweet 16 in the women’s NCAA Tournament, beating No. 10 seed South Dakota State 91-57 on Monday night.

Having said goodbye to her adoring fans at Gampel Pavilion, Bueckers, a senior who is expected to be the top overall pick in the WNBA draft, turns her attention toward trying to bring UConn its 12th national title and first since 2016.

Azzi Fudd scored 17 points and Sarah Strong finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks for the Huskies (33-3), who will face Oklahoma in a regional semifinal in Spokane, Washington.

Minnesota native Paige Meyer had 16 points for South Dakota State (30-4).

Bueckers, the All-America guard, scored UConn’s last 10 points of the first quarter, including a buzzer-beating 3.

She had seven points in a 16-2 run in the second quarter to push the lead to 21.

Texas 65, Illinois 48 >> Madison Booker scored 20 points and No. 1-seed Texas used a smothering defense to earn a victory over No. 8 Illinois, sending the Longhorns to the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda added 19 points for Texas (33-3), which will meet Southeastern Conference rival No. 5 Tennessee (24-9) in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday.

North Carolina State 83, Michigan State 49 >> Aziaha James scored 26 points and second-seeded N.C. State made an NCAA Tournament program-record 15 shots from 3-point range in a victory over seventh-seeded Michigan State in the women’s second round.

James connected for six 3s and Madison Hayes, who had 17 points, drilled five 3s.

N.C. State will meet LSU in a Sweet 16 matchup on Friday in Spokane, Washington. The Wolfpack will be in the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in coach Wes Moore’s 12 seasons.

Grace VanSlooten scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Michigan State (22-10), which was 4-for-15 on 3s. The Spartans were trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009.

Oklahoma 96, Iowa 62 >> Skylar Vann scored 17 points, Payton Verhulst added 16 and No. 3 seed Oklahoma cruised into the Sweet 16, dispatching No. 6 seed Iowa.

Raegan Beers had 11 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks in just 18 minutes for the Sooners.

Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk beat her alma mater and advanced past the second round for the first time in her four years with the Sooners.

Caitlin Clark had led Iowa to the previous two national championship games before she became the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s WNBA draft. Without her, the Hawkeyes shot 36.4% from the field. Lucy Olsen scored 20 points and Kylie Feuerbach added 14 for Iowa (23-11).

Louisiana State 101, Florida State 71 >> Mikaylah Williams scored 28 points and Aneesah Morrow added 26 points and 11 rebounds, leading Flau’Jae Johnson and LSU to a runaway victory over Florida State in the second round.

Johnson, who played just seven minutes in the first half after apparently reaggravating a right shin injury, returned to start the second half and stirred the home crowd into a frenzy with a series of electrifying plays.

North Carolina 58, West Virginia 47 >> Alyssa Ustby scored 16 of her 21 points after halftime to help North Carolina beat West Virginia in the second round.

The fifth-year senior from Minnesota’s big night included 10 third-quarter points for the third-seeded Tar Heels (29-7), who reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2022. North Carolina will face Duke in a regional semifinal in Birmingham, Alabama — the first meeting between the rivals in the women’s March Madness bracket.

Maryland 111, Alabama 108, 2OT >> The Maryland Terrapins pulled off another extra-period escape Monday, outlasting Alabama in the second round. Sarah Te-Biasu made a tying 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, then scored eight of her 26 points in the second OT to help fourth-seeded Maryland advance to the Sweet 16.

Southern California 96, Mississippi State 59 >> Kiki Iriafen scored 36 points and No. 1 seed Southern Cal cruised to a second-round win against No. 9 seed Mississippi State, but the game was overshadowed by the loss of USC star JuJu Watkins to a knee injury in the first quarter.

Watkins leaves game with knee injury

Watkins was carried off the floor with a right knee injury on Monday night.

One of the biggest stars in women’s basketball, Watkins was streaking to the basket between two defenders when her knee bent awkwardly as she planted her right leg, causing her to crumple to the floor with 4:43 remaining. She grabbed her knee and writhed in pain as her teammates surrounded her.

The crowd in Galen Center went silent as coach Lindsay Gottlieb and two other USC staffers attended to the 19-year-old Watkins, a 6-foot-2 sophomore who averages 24.6 points.

USC said Watkins was being evaluated by medical staff and did not return.

“She’s getting seen by our great medical team. We have a group, and a fan base and a team that’s going to have her back no matter what,” Gottlieb told ESPN after halftime. “JuJu is the toughest kid I know and she’s gonna be good one way or another.”