Strong, Fudd Help Uconn Blow Out Ucla 85-51 In Final Four As Bueckers Moves 1 Win From Elusive Title

Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn't even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title game, leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament.

Strong finished with 22 points and Fudd scored all of her 19 points in the first half for the second-seeded Huskies, who are one win away from their 12th national championship and first since the team won four straight from 2013-16, led by Breanna Stewart. The eight-year title drought is the longest for the Huskies since they won their first in 1995.

UConn will face defending champion South Carolina on Sunday for the title after the Gamecocks beat Texas 74-57 earlier Friday night. It's a rematch of the 2022 championship game, which the Gamecocks won 64-49. The teams met in February and UConn shocked South Carolina with a 29-point road victory .

"At this point, anything you did prior to the season means nothing. The record is 0-0 and teams are tying to go 1-0 in the final game," Bueckers said. "So keep up the defensive intensity like we did tonight, they're a really good team. They get out in transition, they've got interior play and great guard play, so we'll have our hands full."

Bueckers, the likely top pick in the WNBA draft, finished with 16 points after topping 30 in each of the previous three games for the Huskies 36-3.