No. 3 UConn routs Villanova, advances to Big East final

Field Level Media|published: Sun 9th March, 16:58 2025

Mar 9, 2025; Uncasville, CT, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) drives the ball against Villanova Wildcats guard Maddie Burke (23) in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Paige Bueckers scored 23 points to help No. 3 UConn advance to the Big East tournament championship game with an 82-54 victory over Villanova on Sunday in Uncasville, Conn.

Sarah Strong paired 20 points with 16 rebounds and Azzi Fudd chipped in 14 points for the top-seed Huskies (30-3), who are seeking their fifth straight Big East tournament title since rejoining the conference in 2020. They'll face either third-seeded Seton Hall or No. 23 Creighton, the second seed, in Monday's final.

Maddie Webber netted 15 points to lead the fifth-seeded Wildcats (18-14). Villanova got 10 points from both Denae Carter and Ryanne Allen but was outshot 51.7 percent to 31.1 percent for the game.

Bueckers, who also had a game-high six assists, tallied 12 points during the second quarter to help UConn build a 47-37 halftime lead. The Huskies outscored the Wildcats 17-6 in the third quarter and led by as many as 30 in the fourth.

--Field Level Media