Paige Bueckers carries UConn into March Madness Elite Eight with 40-point masterpiece

SPOKANE, Wash. — A loud roar erupted in Spokane Arena as Paige Bueckers checked out of Saturday’s game for the last time with 3:06 left to go. 

Even some fans who had arrived early for the USC-Kansas State game that followed UConn-Oklahoma couldn’t help but applaud her. 

Bueckers performed a 40-point masterpiece in the Huskies’ 82-59 win against Oklahoma in the Sweet 16. 

Bueckers scored 29 points in the second half, including 19 in the fourth quarter.

It came just days after she dropped 34 points in a second-round win against South Dakota State. 

Oklahoma made Connecticut sweat.

Guard Payton Verhulst’s 13-point heater in the second half helped propel the Sooners to a 36-32 halftime lead. 

But Connecticut, led by its star senior, came out firing on all cylinders out of the break and overwhelmed the Sooners.

It started with Bueckers sinking a corner 3.

Then, she blocked Reyna Scott on the other end. 

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Bueckers’ determination and tenacity set the tone and the rest of her teammates followed suit. 

At one point in the third quarter, Bueckers had as many points (10) as the entire Sooner team combined. 

Oklahoma committed eight turnovers and were outscored 25-15 in the third quarter. 

It was all over from there.

What looked like a competitive matchup in the first half resulted in a lopsided outcome.