Paige Bueckers Shines in Her Final Home Game as UConn Dominates SDSU
What a night for UConn and Paige Bueckers! In what was her final game at Gampel Pavilion, Bueckers made sure to leave an unforgettable mark. The Huskies, the No. 2 seed, cruised past No. 10 South Dakota State with an impressive 91-57 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. And at the heart of it all? Bueckers, putting on a performance that had the entire arena on its feet.
From the very beginning, UConn faced some early resistance. The Huskies even found themselves trailing by six points in the first quarter. But then, Bueckers flipped the switch. With a flawless 4-for-4 shooting start, she racked up 10 points in the opening frame, single-handedly shifting the momentum in UConn’s favor.
By halftime, she had already poured in 21 points—the most she's ever scored in the first half of a tournament game. The Huskies took a commanding 43-28 lead into the locker room, and from that point on, it was all UConn. Bueckers continued to torch the Jackrabbits’ defense, finishing with 34 points on an efficient 14-for-21 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Not only that, but she added four assists and four steals, proving once again why she’s one of the best players in college basketball today.
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Her 34-point explosion ties a career-high and places her alongside UConn legend Maya Moore for the most 25+ point performances in the tournament by a Huskies player over the last 25 years. That’s the kind of legacy Bueckers is leaving behind.
Meanwhile, UConn fans showed up in full force. Some students camped out for over 30 hours just to get the best seats in the house, knowing this was their last chance to watch Bueckers play on her home court. The energy in the arena was electric, and the Huskies fed off that enthusiasm, expanding their lead to 72-36 by the end of the third quarter.
For South Dakota State, it was a tough night. Their players, especially those from Minnesota, were eager to battle against Bueckers, a Minnesota basketball icon. But despite their best efforts, the Jackrabbits couldn’t keep up with the depth and talent of UConn.
As the final buzzer sounded, the realization set in—this was it for Paige Bueckers at Gampel Pavilion. Fans cheered, teammates embraced, and an era at UConn took another step towards its conclusion. But there’s still work to be done. With this win, UConn punches its ticket to the Sweet 16, and Bueckers isn’t done making history just yet.
Next stop? A shot at another deep tournament run. And if this game was any indication, Bueckers and the Huskies are more than ready to chase another championship.
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