The second placed Uconn Huskies were introduced this year’s ladies NCAA -Tournament With high expectations.
Guard Husky’s Paige Bueckers’ 34 points led the team to Monday’s victory over the state of South Dakota in the second round in Storrs. The 91-57 victory hit the ticket from Uconn to Sweet 16, where the Huskies will meet number 3 Oklahoma.
The game also marked the last time that Bueckers would take the court in the Gampel pavilion in an UConn uniform.
Bueckers appealed to the loyal moments after Monday’s game.
Click here for more sports reporting on Foxnews.com
Uconn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) talks to the crowd after beating the Jackrabbits in South Dakota in Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn., 24 March 2025. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
“It means everything,” said Bueckers, at the center of the court with a microphone. “We started playing here with cardboard recesses such as the fans, so just to have experienced that and then experienced the other side of it, which was great. The atmosphere was great. You can’t even hear time -outs, you can’t even hear mistakes, not even hear when the whistle is only because of how loud they are and how much support they show.
USC’s Juju Watkins suffers devastating knee injury in March Madness Game
“It was a dream to play here, a dream to wear this uniform, a dream to play in this area. So much more often you want this to happen, you just take every chance you have and never take it for granted.”
Uconn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers leaves the floor after beating the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State in Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Con., 24 March 2025. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
The victory over the state of South Dakota also insured the 31st consecutive Sweet 16 -appearing of the Huskies. While UConn had a slow start of Monday’s game, Bueckers scored the last 10 points of the Huskies of the first quarter.
“It’s incredible to look,” said Uconn guard Azzi Fudd. “You almost feel sorry for the other team when Paige is locked up. There is nothing you can do to stop her. Whatever she makes, the ball goes inside. It was fun to see and see what she does.”
Uconn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) makes her last basket in Harry A. Gampel Pavilion against South Dakota State in Storrs, Conn., 24 March 2025. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
It has not been the easiest five years for Bueckers. She missed one season and was limited to 17 games in the other. She has one last chance to win a national championship before she goes The WnbaProbably as the number 1 general choice in the design.
“If you are in high school, it seems so easy, you know? I’m going to UConn and win a national championship,” Old Uconn head coach Geno Auriemma said. “Reality strikes, and you realize that it is incredibly difficult to do that. So I don’t want someone to feel less than full if they leave here if they don’t have a national championship.
“She has placed herself in that position that if she leaves here without winning one, she will feel less than full. I don’t feel like that and, as I said, she does things that no one has ever done before. She has had to do a lot for us all the time she has been here, and she is rewarded.
Click here to get the Fox News app
There will be a time when Bueckers think about the memories of her time to play in Connecticut. She was not ready to consider Monday’s victory as the last chapter of her UConn career.
“I’m sure we have more time to think about it when the season is over,” said Bueckers. “At the moment we are super focused on the present, but of course just extremely grateful, and you can’t really put into words how much this place has meant for me. I am forever owing thank you, and it has become my second home.”
The Associated Press has contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s Sports reporting on Xand subscribe to The Fox News Sports Huddle -Newsletter.
