UConn bounces UCLA in semifinals, to face South Carolina for title

Field Level Media|published: Sat 5th April, 24:07 2025

Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) dribbles against UCLA Bruins guard Elina Aarnisalo (7) during the third quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Azzi Fudd scored all 19 of her points in the first half, powering UConn to a dominant start as the Huskies cruised past UCLA 85-51 in Friday's second national semifinal in Tampa, Fla.

UConn, a second seed, advanced to Sunday's national title game against defending champion South Carolina. The Gamecocks rolled past Texas in Friday's first semifinal.

By halftime, UConn (36-3) rode Fudd's offensive burst to double the 10-point lead it held through the first quarter. She scored 12 of the Huskies' 19 points in the quarter, shooting 4-of-8 from the floor in the period and 7-of-11 for the first half.

Sarah Strong then took over in the second half. She scored 14 of her team-high 22 points after intermission, including eight points in the final 3:25 of the third quarter.

Strong knocked down two of her four 3-pointers during that stretch and shot 4-of-6 from beyond the arc on the night. Fudd finished 3-of-5 on 3-point attempts.

Strong also matched teammate Jana El Alfy and UCLA's Gabriela Jaquez with a game-high eight rebounds.

UConn star Paige Bueckers struggled from the field, hitting 7 of 17 shots overall and 0 of 3 from long range. She scored 10 points in the second half to close with 16, ending her streak of three straight games with at least 31.

Bueckers also came away with three steals, contributing to the most effective defensive effort of any UCLA opponent all season. The Bruins' 51 points were a season-low -- nine fewer than the previous mark in a loss to rival Southern California in February -- due in part to 19 turnovers.

Fudd also had three steals, and El Alfy added four. UConn converted the 19 takeaways into 27 points.

UCLA (34-3), a number one seed that was playing in the program's first-ever NCAA Final Four, never had a lead. The Bruins leaned heavily on center Lauren Betts, who scored 11 half of UCLA's 22 points in the first half.

Betts finished with 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting. The rest of the Bruins were just 9-of-34 (26.5 percent) from the field.

Kiki Rice had eight points before fouling out, and no other Bruins finished with more than six.

--Field Level Media

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