The UConn Huskies met the Oklahoma Sooners for their Sweet Sixteen matchup in Spokane on Saturday afternoon, and while the Huskies came away with the win, it was anything but a flawless game.
The Sooners opened solidly, scoring the first eight points while UConn struggled to find their shots, but after a three-pointer from Paige Bueckers, the Huskies woke up and proceeded to outscore Oklahoma 17 – 4. Oklahoma then took UConn completely out of their rhythm and outscored them 24 – 15, giving the Sooners a 36 – 32 lead at the half. Bueckers did not score in the second quarter, and Oklahoma showed a good team effort with some excellent defense and timely shooting to pull ahead.
The second half of the game was a game in its own right. UConn came out a different team, playing their style, and quickly erased the Oklahoma lead. They presented a more coordinated attack, and their defense held the Sooners to only 10 points while amassing 27 of their own. Oklahoma looked equally different, but not for the good.
Plagued by turnovers and missed shots, they looked like a team that had lost its drive. The disappointment on the face of Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk was palpable. Relying heavily on their starters, Oklahoma got no help from their bench, with only Liz Scott scoring nine points. Highly touted junior transfer Raegan Beers, who averages just over 17 points, was held to 10.
The second half belonged to Bueckers. She outscored Oklahoma 29 – 23 in the second half and came away with a career high 40 points, the first UConn player to reach that mark in tournament history. Oklahoma, who had put Bueckers off her game in the second quarter, could not contain her in the second half. But it wasn’t just Bueckers. Sarah Strong and Jana El Alfy combined for 20 rebounds, with Strong adding 11 points.
Ashlynn Shade scored 12 points off the bench, and Azzi Fudd contributed 10. Payton Verhulst led Oklahoma with 16 points, as Sahara Williams scored 10.
What’s Next for UConn in the Elite Eight?
As anticipated and probably hoped for, UConn will face USC in the Elite Eight, but without JuJu Watkins. USC fell to UConn last year and will look to avenge that loss. USC, a team that relies heavily on their starters, struggled somewhat against Kansas State in their Sweet Sixteen game but eventually came away with the win. UConn cannot afford another first half like they had against Oklahoma, and USC is going to have to play lights out. With so much riding on this game, it should be exciting from start to finish.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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