UConn Huskies' Trio Tops 20 Points in 86-64 NCAA Tournament Rout of Jackson State

STORRS, Conn. — The UConn Huskies are moving on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after an 86-64 victory over the Jackson State Tigers on Saturday night.

It was a dominant performance from UConn, who led by 22 points after the first quarter and never looked back. Paige Bueckers led the way with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while Ashlynn Shade added a career-high 26 points and Aaliyah Edwards chipped in with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The Huskies' victory was their 30th straight in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and it was a satisfying win for coach Geno Auriemma, who was celebrating his 70th birthday.

"I’m thrilled that this one’s out of the way and it’s over with," Auriemma said. "Playing a team like Jackson State, they compete really, really, really hard, and they seem to get energized. even more the more you score … They never feel like, ‘We’re out of it. We should just pack it in.’ I was really impressed with them. I think they’re exceptionally well coached."

Bueckers Shines in NCAA Tournament Return

Bueckers was making her first NCAA Tournament appearance since tearing her ACL in August 2022, and she showed no signs of rust. The senior guard shot 11-for-19 from the field and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

"Paige was being aggressive, Aaliyah was being assertive … and those two things are kind of what drives us," Auriemma said.

Shade Breaks Out in NCAA Tournament Debut

Shade, a freshman guard, had a breakout performance in her NCAA Tournament debut. She hit a career-high five 3-pointers and finished with 26 points.

"I was just going to let the game come to me. I wasn’t going to overthink it, which I typically do sometimes, but no, today I was like after that play I felt like I was finally ready to go," Shade said.

UConn Advances to Second Round

The Huskies will face No. 6 seed Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday night. The Orange advanced with a 74-69 win over No. 11 seed Arizona on Saturday. https://www.wdbj7.com/sports/betting/2024/03/23/uconn-jackson-state-womens-college-basketball-live-stream-tv-ncaa-tournament-first-round/

"I think they’re a great team," Auriemma said of Syracuse. "They’re very well-coached, they have a lot of experience, and they play hard. We’re going to have to be at our best to beat them."

Jackson State Puts Up a Fight

The Tigers gave UConn a run for their money, especially in the third quarter. Jackson State cut the Huskies' lead to just 10 points at one point, but UConn was able to weather the storm.

"We knew they were going to make a run," Edwards said. "We just had to stay calm and keep playing our game."

The Tigers were led by Angel Jackson, who had 13 points and four rebounds. https://www.courant.com/2024/03/23/uconn-womens-basketball-routs-jackson-state-86-64-as-paige-bueckers-puts-stamp-on-ncaa-opener/

What's Next for UConn?

The Huskies will return to action on Monday night when they face Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The game will be played at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, and is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. ET.