UConn vs. USC final score, results: Paige Bueckers, Huskies set up Final Four showdown with Caitlin Clark

Emily Dozier

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UConn vs. USC final score, results: Paige Bueckers, Huskies set up Final Four showdown with Caitlin Clark image

Then there were four. No. 3 UConn defeated No. 1 USC 80-73 to advance to the Final Four. It’s the Huskies’ 23rd trip to the semifinals, a Division I record.

Injuries maimed UConn all season, whittling the squad down to just eight available players for the NCAA Tournament. Nevertheless, it wasn’t enough to keep the Huskies out of Cleveland. They move on to their second Final Four in three seasons.

It was a slow start for the Huskies at first, as they had to play from behind for much of the first half. They found some momentum in the second quarter, getting out to a six point lead, but USC wasn’t going down. The Trojans tied it at 33 at halftime. 

It was in the second frame that freshman phenom Juju Watkins broke the NCAA women’s freshman scoring record. She led her squad with 29 points, bringing her final season total to 920. Her rookie season may not result in a national championship, but USC and Watkins showed a bright future ahead.

Stars Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards led the charge for UConn, recording 28 and 24 points respectively. Bueckers added 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the tournament a year after a missing out on it with injury.

UConn now heads to Cleveland to face No. 1 Iowa and Caitlin Clark in the national semifinals on Friday night. 

The Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from UConn vs. USC in the 2024 Elite Eight. Scroll below for results. 

MORE: Watch UConn vs. USC live on Sling

UConn vs. USC score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
UConn 15 18 22 25 80
USC 17 16 18 22 73

UConn vs. USC results, highlights from 2024 NCAA Women's Elite Eight

All times Eastern.

Final: UConn 80, USC 73

11:37 p.m. – This will come down to the wire. With 17.5 on the clock, UConn leads 76-71.

11:26 p.m. – Edwards gets her 22nd point to lead USC 73-64. Only two minutes remain...

11:21 p.m. – Bueckers with the quick release, and it's a five-point lead for the Huskies.

11:13 p.m. – Tie game! Forbes drills a 3 to equal it at 59 with seven minutes left in the fourth.

End of third quarter: UConn 55, USC 51

11:02 p.m. – Taylor Bigby hits the 3! It's an 8-0 run for USC.

10:54 p.m. – Juju doing Juju things for the and-one. The Trojans need momentum here to keep up with the Huskies.

10:47 p.m. – Forbes from the arc! USC trails by five midway through the third.

10:41 p.m. – Masked Aaliyah is no more.

Halftime: UConn 33, USC 33

10:18 p.m. – Buckers with the dime. She's up to 15 points on the night.

10:08 p.m. – The freshman scoring record now belongs to Watkins! The Trojan hits her eight point of the night with a 3-pointer. 

10:05 p.m. – Freshman Qadence Samuels makes it an 8-0 run! Timeout, USC.

10:03 p.m. – KK Arnold makes the shot to give UConn its first lead of the night! The Huskies are up 21-19.

9:57 p.m. – After one, McKenzie Forbes leads the field with eight points to give the Trojans the lead.

End of first quarter: UConn 15, USC 17

9:51 p.m. – Bueckers + Edwards = Bucket

9:37 p.m. – Rayah Marshall puts the first points on the board for USC!

9:18 p.m. – Tipoff has been delayed to 9:31 p.m. following LSU-Iowa.

8:58 p.m. – Huskies bringin' the heat.

8:51 p.m. – Eights points is all Watkins needs, and she'll own the freshman scoring record. 

8:38 p.m. – The first Final Four of the night is setting the tempo for an exciting night. Iowa leads LSU 61-52 in the third. Things are only heating up.

8:04 p.m. – All's quiet in Portland for now...

7:28 p.m. – The Trojans are fired up for gameday.

What channel is UConn vs. USC on today?

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: Sling

UConn vs. USC will be broadcast on ESPN. Those who prefer streaming can find the game on Sling.

UConn vs. USC start time

  • Date: Monday, April 1
  • Time: 9:00 p.m. ET

UConn-USC will be the final Elite Eight game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. It begins Monday, April 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET live from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

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Emily Dozier

Emily Dozier Photo

Emily Dozier is a live events and lifestyle writer at The Sporting News, covering everything from sporting events and music festivals to broadway shows and stand-up comedy. Based out of New York, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. When not covering the SN tickets beat, Emily enjoys playing volleyball and cooking. Prior to joining The Sporting News in 2023, Emily covered the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup for the Associated Press.