Bueckers leads No. 3 UConn to Giant East name recreation with 82-54 win over Villanova

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Paige Bueckers scored 21 of her 23 issues within the first part and No. 3 UConn held Villanova with out a box objective for greater than 16 mins to overcome the Wildcats 82-54 on Sunday, advancing to the Giant East championship recreation.Sarah Sturdy added 20 issues and 16 rebounds for the Huskies (30-3), who shall be making an attempt for his or her 5th consecutive Giant East crown Monday night time.Bueckers placed on a display for the large crowd that incorporated participants of the Dallas Wings entrance place of work personnel. The Wings have the No. 1 select within the WNBA draft subsequent month. Bueckers scored from in all places and helped UConn blow open a decent recreation towards the top of the primary part.UConn grew to become a four-point recreation right into a 47-37 lead on the destroy.Villanova (18-14), which was once led by means of Maddie Webber’s 15 issues, couldn’t get again inside unmarried digits the remainder of the sport.TakeawaysVillanova:: The Wildcats have received 10 in their previous 15 video games with 4 of the ones losses coming towards UConn and Creighton. Now they anticipate a bid to a postseason match.UConn: The Huskies complex to the finals of the match for the 14th consecutive time. UConn closing didn’t make the Giant East Match championship in 2004 apart from the seven years the varsity was once within the American Athletic Convention from 2014-20.Key momentUConn led 37-33 with 3:31 left in the second one quarter ahead of the usage of a 22-4 spurt spanning the part to blow the sport open. Sturdy had 11 issues right through the game-changing spurt.Key statVillanova didn’t have a box objective in the second one part till Ryanne Allen’s jumper with 4:48 left within the fourth quarter. The Wildcats overlooked their first 16 pictures, together with all 11 in their makes an attempt within the 3rd quarter, as UConn blew the sport open.Up nextUConn performs the winner of Creighton and Seton Corridor for the championship Monday night time.