PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Paige Bueckers scored 29 points, Azzi Fudd added 18 and No. 2 UConn defeated No. 18 Mississippi 73-60 in the Baha Mar Women’s Championship final Wednesday night.
Bueckers had 15 points and Fudd 12 on a combined 11-of-14 shooting in the second half as the Huskies took control after nearly blowing a 21-point lead in the third quarter.
Sarah Strong added 10 points for the Huskies (7-0).
Bueckers scored seven points in a 15-1 run that saw the Huskies take a 17-3 lead as the Rebels started the game 1-for-13 from the field. Half time was 37:18.
The Rebels got going early in the third quarter, rallying for 15 points to cut the deficit to 41-38, but Fudd answered with a 3-pointer and a jumper and a buzzer-beating layup by Bueckers to give the Huskies a 52-46 lead. fourth quarter.
KK Deans had 17 points to lead the Rebels (4-2). Kennedy Todd-Williams added 13 points, Starr Jacobs 11 and Madison Scott 10.
Takeaways
UConn committed eight turnovers in the third quarter as the Rebels tried to get back into the game, but hit eight straight shots as the Huskies righted the ship.
Ole Miss needs to be buoyed by a third-quarter rally to make it a game after such a miserable first half.
A key moment
The Huskies were reeling when an 18-point lead was cut to three with less than 3 minutes left, but Fudd stopped the Rebel drive with a 3 and a jumper and UConn regained control.
Key statistics
UConn shot 51.6% (16-of-31) and Ole Miss 15.6% (5-of-32) in the first half. Ole Miss improved to 47% in the second half, but UConn shot 68%.
Next
Ole Miss is at home against Alabama State on Saturday. UConn goes home to play Holy Cross on Tuesday.