INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Paige Bueckers showcased her prowess on the court by tallying 23 points and 10 assists, while Sarah Strong contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, propelling the No. 5 UConn Huskies to a commanding 86-47 triumph over Butler on Saturday. Ashlynn Shade chipped in with 14 points, complementing Bueckers’ defensive effort with three steals as the Huskies (26-3, 16-0) secured their fifth consecutive victory following a setback against then No. 19 Tennessee. Since their sole defeat to then No. 7 Southern California in December, the Huskies have emerged victorious in 16 of their last 17 games, positioning themselves just a single win away from clinching another outright regular season conference title.
Kilyn McGuff and Lily Zeinstra led Butler with 13 points each, as the Bulldogs (15-15, 5-12) faced a raucous crowd at Hinkle Fieldhouse, marking the first sold-out women’s game at the venue. Despite the presence of McGuff’s father Kevin, the head coach of Ohio State, in attendance, Butler remained winless against UConn in eight encounters, with the heavily pro-Huskies audience dominating the atmosphere from start to finish.
The Huskies set the tone early with a blistering 17-3 run to close out the first quarter, extending their lead further with a quick six-point burst to open the second quarter, establishing a commanding 27-9 advantage. They maintained their dominance throughout the game, heading into halftime with a 42-17 lead that they successfully preserved in the second half.
UConn guard Caroline Ducharme made a successful return to the court after recovering from a head injury suffered last season, bolstering the team’s depth and resilience as they continue their impressive campaign in the Big East.
In terms of takeaways, UConn’s overwhelming performance continues to intimidate their conference rivals, with no team yet able to devise a successful strategy to contain their multifaceted attack. As they fine-tune their balance and cohesion with each passing game, the Huskies appear poised for another deep run in the upcoming Final Four.
Meanwhile, the injury-plagued Butler squad faced an uphill battle, as key players Sydney Jaynes and Lily Carmody courageously played through their ailments under coach Austin Parkinson’s guidance. Despite their valiant effort against one of the nation’s top teams, the Bulldogs ultimately fell short in their quest for victory.
One pivotal moment in the game came when Strong scored consecutive baskets midway through the first quarter, sparking a decisive 23-3 run that set the tone for UConn’s dominant performance. The stat sheet also reflected Butler’s struggles, as they succumbed to a lopsided 22-8 turnover differential and were outscored
