Paige Buckets Bueckers delivered a career-defining performance, scoring 40 points to lead UConn to an emphatic 82-59 win over Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA’s March Madness. Bueckers’ brilliance propelled UConn into their third consecutive Elite Eight appearance, where they will face No. 1 seed Southern California.
In her 40-point masterclass, Bueckers not only propelled her team to victory, but she also etched her name into the UConn program record books for the most points scored by an individual in an NCAA tournament game. Out of 40 points, 29 came in a red-hot second-half performance where she shot 12-of-16 from the floor, including an amazing 5-of-6 from three. Overall, Bueckers shot 6-of-8 from three-point range and 16-of-27 from the field.
Bueckers’ brilliance enhanced the comparisons wrought with Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, the projected No.1 WNBA pick for 2024. With strong consideration among those slighted by Bueckers’ dominance in the tournament sustaining Clark’s narrative of being the next likely first pick in the forthcoming WNBA draft, those comparisons have only grown in intensity.
Bueckers’ all-around performance obviously played a significant role in the win. Always showing off her other talents, the All-American went for six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. This was one game after she had matched her previous career-high of 34 in UConn’s second-round win over South Dakota State.
While Bueckers was stealing the show, UConn got some contributions from her mates. Ashlynn Shade scored 12, and Azzi Fudd added 10. Sarah Strong, meanwhile, had 11 points and 11 rebounds, despite a tough shooting night of 4-for-13.
Payton Verhulst led the Sooners with 16 points, while Raegan Beers had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. However, the Sooners couldn’t match UConn’s intensity, particularly in the second half when Bueckers took charge.
Reflecting on her career-high performance, Bueckers emphasized the importance of staying in the moment:
“Honestly, we just want to keep our season going as long as possible. We all love playing together. We love playing here. We just love this program and everything it means. So we want it to keep going as long as possible,” Bueckers said.
She acknowledged UConn’s slow start but praised her team for maintaining composure:
“We knew we were getting good shots in the first half. Stuff wasn’t dropping, so we just wanted to stay consistent in the looks that we were getting and how we were getting them. So just trying to stay aggressive, read what the game is calling for, and just trying to do what it takes to win.”
‘One Game at a Time’ Mentality
As her college career nears its conclusion, Bueckers remains focused on the task at hand.
“Everybody at this point of the season is trying to keep winning, to win a national title and keep the season going as long as possible, everybody has the same goal,” she added. “Whether your season is ending or your career is ending, you want to stay in one game at a time, one practice at a time, one possession at a time, and just focus on that and maximizing that, and not getting too caught up in the future. But you do know in the back of your mind that every possession counts. And it’ll be my last season here at UConn. But you try to just stay in the present.”
