Jackson State couldn’t overcome a gradual first-quarter begin and an all-around efficiency by Paige Bueckers in an 86-64 loss towards No. 3 seed UConn within the first spherical of the ladies’s NCAA Event on Saturday.
The Tigers, driving a 21-game profitable streak, jumped out to a 4-2 lead on a Miya Crump jumper within the opening minutes earlier than Bueckers and the Huskies took over.
UConn, which hadn’t misplaced an opening-round sport since 1993, went on a 17-0 run led by eight factors from Bueckers. UConn led 22-8 after 10 minutes and took its first 20-point lead at 39-19 on a 3-pointer from Bueckers, who additionally pulled down 11 rebounds and had seven assists within the sport.
Jackson State head coach Tomekia Reed stated a bunch that displayed poise all season lengthy didn’t have a lot of it persistently within the first quarter.
“We had a superb plan, however we let the primary quarter get out of hand,” stated Reed. “I assumed our gamers had jitters.”
That was evidenced by the Tigers going 2 of 10 from the sphere, 0 of 6 from the 3-point line, and committing 5 turnovers to begin the sport.
The Tigers have been in a position to keep comparatively shut within the second quarter however didn’t threaten UConn regardless of a Ti’lan Boler 3-pointer from the correct nook on the buzzer, which despatched the groups into the half, with UConn main 49-28.
Boler completed the sport with a team-high 25 factors. Angel Jackson, the SWAC Defensive Participant of the 12 months, chipped in with 13 factors and two blocked photographs for the 14th-seeded Tigers.
However Saturday was all about Bueckers, who scored 28 factors and freshman Ashlynn Shade added 26.
Aaliyah Edwards, who just lately declared for the WNBA Draft, had 20 factors and 10 rebounds for the Huskies.
