Bueckers scores career-high 40 to lead rout

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

She scored 29 to rescue the Huskies after halftime deficit against Oklahoma

Paige Bueckers (5) of the Connecticut Huskies reacts in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Spokane Arena on Saturday in Spokane, Washington. STEPH CHAMBERS — GETTY IMAGES

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Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 40 points, rescuing UConn from its first-half doldrums and single-handedly turning a tight game against Oklahoma into an 82-59 rout on Saturday that sent the Huskies to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Bueckers had 29 points after halftime for the Huskies, who trailed 36-32 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.

The electrifying senior guard matched her career high with six 3-pointers, the last two during a personal 10-0 run in the fourth quarter. Bueckers checked out of the game with 3:06 left and UConn ahead 80-51.

“Obviously, Paige was spectacular,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “That was as good a game as I’ve seen her play the whole time she’s been here, at the most important time. When you’re a senior and you’ve been around as long as she has, this is what you’re here to do. This is why you came here.”

The second-seeded Huskies (34-3), winners of 13 straight, will face the Southern California in a regional final on Monday.

Ashlynn Shade added 12 points and Sarah Strong had 11 points and 11 rebounds for UConn, which is seeking to extend its record by winning a 12th national title. The Huskies reached their 18th Elite Eight in the past 19 seasons, but Auriemma’s team hasn’t won it all since 2016.

Payton Verhulst scored 16 points for third-seeded Oklahoma (27-8), which reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013.

Bueckers — who led UConn to last year’s Final Four, where it lost to eventual champion South Carolina — came out after the break and made clear her collegiate career would continue, scoring eight points early in the third quarter to put the Huskies ahead.

Bueckers surpassed Tina Charles for fourth place on UConn’s career scoring list.

Texas 67, Tennessee 59 >> Texas coach Vic Schaefer got the tense battle he expected between his defensive-minded Longhorns and the highest-scoring team in the country in Tennessee.

In the end, the Longhorns edged their Southeastern Conference foe with the same approach they’ve had all season — relying on swarming defense and the shot-making of SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker.

Top-seeded Texas got 17 points from Booker and outlasted the fifth-seeded Lady Volunteers in the Sweet 16.

Jordan Lee scored 13 points and Taylor Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Longhorns (34-3), who advanced to face TCU in the Elite Eight.

Zee Spearman had 13 points for the Lady Vols, who continued their run as the only school to appear in every Division I women’s tournament with their 43rd straight appearance.

Texas Christian 71, Notre Dame 62 >> TCU is in unchartered territory thanks to Hailey Van Lith, reaching the Elite Eight for the first time.

It sure seems like business as usual for the dynamic guard. Van Lith scored 12 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter to help second-seeded TCU beat No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.

Sedona Prince added 21 points for the Horned Frogs (34-3), who will play Texas on Monday night.

Van Lith, who started her career at Louisville before transferring to LSU last season and then TCU this past year, is on her way to a regional final for the fifth time.

Notre Dame (28-6) was trying to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019. The Irish have lost in the Sweet 16 the past four years.

Southern California 67, Kansas State 61 >> Kennedy Smith stepped into the void left by injured star JuJu Watkins, scoring 19 points to help Southern California hold off Kansas State in the Sweet 16.

The top-seeded Trojans (31-3) were considered title contenders before Watkins tore her right ACL during a second-round victory over Mississippi State. Now they’ll be underdogs in an Elite Eight rematch on Monday with Paige Bueckers and second-seeded UConn. The Huskies knocked the Trojans out of last year’s March Madness in Watkins’ first season.

Avery Howell, another freshman, scored 18 points for USC, which went on a 12-0 run during the third quarter to take a 46-39 lead.

Ayoka Lee had 12 for the fifth-seeded Wildcats (28-8), who fell short of the program’s second Elite Eight appearance and first since 1982.