LSU, Iowa, USC and UConn advanced to the Elite Eight on Saturday.
Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman and more
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
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The Athletic Staff
Sweet 16 results
Saturday's schedule
(All times ET)
- No. 3 LSU 78, No. 2 UCLA 69
- No. 1 Iowa 89, No. 5 Colorado 68
- No. 1 USC 74, No. 5 Baylor 70
- No. 3 UConn 53, No. 7 Duke 45
Friday's results
- No. 3 Oregon State 70, No. 2 Notre Dame 65
- No. 1 South Carolina 79, No. 4 Indiana 75
- No. 3 NC State 77, No. 2 Stanford 67
- No. 1 Texas 69, No. 4 Gonzaga 47
Related reading
- South Carolina doesn't sweat or stumble
- Does Oregon State have your attention now?
- South Carolina strong: Dawn Staley and her gameday workout crew
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For ticket information on all tournament games, click here.
Paige Bueckers, UConn outlast Duke to advance to Elite Eight vs. USC
There was a UConn fan in the stands at Moda Center on Saturday night who pulled her long, blond hair back into a ponytail with braids in the front, just like UConn star guard Paige Bueckers.
She held up a sign: “Paige, am I doing this right?” and high-fived Bueckers as she ran from the UConn bench back to the locker room.
These days, everyone wants to be like Bueckers, who again starred for the No. 3 Huskies in a 53-45 win against No. 7 Duke on Saturday night that now advances the Huskies to their 22nd Elite 8 in the past 24 NCAA Tournaments. Bueckers scored 24 of her team’s 53 points on a night when the Huskies were particularly short-handed after forward Aaliyah Edwards picked up her fourth foul midway through the third quarter. UConn played just six players all night, but shot 40 percent from the field, compared to Duke’s 33-percent mark, and scored 23 points off 23 Duke turnovers — the difference in the game.
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The Athletic College Basketball Staff
Elite 8 matchups are set
The Athletic College Basketball Staff
UConn advances to the Elite 8
That's gonna do it from Moda Center. Duke made a nice little run that made things interesting for a hot minute, but UConn prevails. I'm equal parts impressed by and concerned with the Huskies' depth moving forward. On the one hand, to get the job done so short-handed was incredible. On the other, March can be unforgiving when you're not at full strength.
UConn wins 53-45.
Duke takes a timeout down seven points with 19.6 seconds. Blue Devils will have the ball when we come back.
Here comes Duke
Do we have a game here in Portland? After seemingly being left for dead, Duke has mounted a 10-0 run to pull within five with less than two minutes to play.
We head into the fourth quarter with UConn up on Duke 42-27. I wouldn't exactly say this has been an offensive explosion by any means, but the Huskies look good. They're shooting 44 percent from the field, have 17 points off turnovers and 20 points in the paint. Even with Edwards in foul trouble, the Huskies have been able to maintain a consistent lead over a Duke team that has never been able to get into a rhythm.
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Some bad news for UConn
Aaliyah Edwards just picked up her fourth foul. Ice Brady checked in for her and UConn has a 16-point lead at the moment, but the Huskies aren't deep enough to have major foul problems given all the injuries. They've played just six players tonight.
UConn is off to a hot start, scoring 10 points in the first three minutes of the third quarter. The Blue Devils have actually overpowered the Huskies on the glass with a 28-17 rebounding advantage, but it's just been one of those nights.
At the half, UConn is up 23-13 on Duke.
Buckers leads the way with nine points as UConn continues to play short-handed. Of the six UConn players who have played tonight, four of them have played for all 20 minutes of actions and Edwards has played for 18. I know I keep harping on the turnovers for Duke, but Kara Lawson can't be pleased with the way her team has given up the ball these past 20 minutes. Duke came into the game averaging 16.9 turnovers per game. They've got 13 (!) in the first half alone, including two travel calls and a shot clock violation.
Something to keep an eye on
Paige Bueckers just picked up her second foul. Geno is letting her play, as she just made a bucket and drew the foul for the and-one opportunity. If you're Duke, you'd probably love nothing more than for her to miss some time with foul problems.
UConn leads 10-6 after 1Q
At the end of the first quarter, UConn is up 10-6. Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards both have four for the Huskies, Reigan Richardson has four for the Blue Devils. The difference is turnovers. Duke has six of them and UConn has four points off of them.
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Duke is off to a bit of a shaky start with five turnovers already at the 3:29 mark of the first quarter and a 29-percent shooting mark from the field. The Huskies have four steals already and six of their 10 points have come in the paint. Hasn't felt like Duke has been able to impose its will quite yet, but maybe we'll see the Blue Devils settle in.
OK, we are underway with Duke-UConn. Paige Bueckers (unsurprisingly) scores UConn's first bucket here at Moda Center. Geno Auriemma called her "the best player in America" last week. I expect she'll put on another show tonight.
Channeling JuJu
Rayah Marshall was asked what was going through her head when she had a chance to sink the game-saving free throw to put USC up four. According to the junior center, "I tried to channel my inner JuJu."
Fan favorite
USC's JuJu Watkins signed autographs after the win before leaving the court.
So close ...
Sarah Andrews, who has hit five 3s today, had a clean look from distance to tie the game from the right wing, but missed and Baylor was forced to foul. One made free throw from Rayah Marshall, and that's all she wrote in Portland. USC is off to the Elite Eight for the first time in 30 years.
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The Athletic Staff
USC headed to Elite Eight
The Trojans are back in the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994 with their victory against Baylor. JuJu Watkins finished with 30 points and 6 rebounds. She made 12 of 13 free throws.
Watkins delivers on free throws
JuJu Watkins has been stone cold from the foul line, draining 12 of 13. The latest two kept the Trojans up three as Baylor fouls to extend the game. Bears ball, down 3 with 19.5 seconds to play. Presumably, there is too much time left for USC to foul intentionally.
Banked 3!?
A BANK 3! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Senior Sarah Andrews hit the shot out of timeout for Baylor to trail 71-70 with 22.8 seconds left.
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