Paige Bueckers, UConn blow by ice-cold Gophers

Paige Bueckers' homecoming nothing short of sensational as she led eighth-ranked Connecticut to a 62-44 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers inside Williams Arena in Minneapolis. 

Bueckers, a likely top three pick in next year's WNBA Draft, starred at Hopkins High School in the Twin Cities where she was the No. 1 recruit in the country and the national Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020. 

Minnesota kept it close in the first half, trailing just 26-23 to a UConn team that on Thursday blasted 20th-ranked Maryland 80-48. But the Huskies turned on the jets in the third quarter, outscoring the Gophers 21-6 to take an 18-point lead into the fourth quarter and they never let Minnesota get close. 

Bueckers finished with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. 

Minnesota shot 9-of-38 in the first half compared to 11-of-25 for Connecticut, a large disparity in shot attempts thanks to the Gophers' 11 offensive rebounds. And when the offensive rebounds stopped coming and the shots evened up, the Huskies pulled away.