Paige Bueckers, UConn Dominate UCLA as Fans Hype NCAA Title Matchup vs. South Carolina

Azzi Fudd scored 19 first-half points to propel the UConn women's basketball team to a 42-22 halftime lead en route to a dominant 85-51 win over UCLA in the Final Four on Friday evening in Tampa Bay.

Sarah Strong added 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting (4-of-6 from three) and eight rebounds for UConn, while Paige Bueckers added 16 points and five rebounds for a Huskies team that made history:

This game was all UConn, which held UCLA to 38.5 percent shooting (4-of-16 from three). UCLA center Lauren Betts scored 26 points (11-of-18), but no other player had more than eight.

Fudd set UConn's tone early in this one, and the Huskies never looked back.

The Huskies swarmed the Bruins on defense, forcing 19 turnovers. First-year center Jana El Alfy did a tremendous job down low, amassing four steals. Fudd and Bueckers had three steals apiece.

The defense led to offense, and UConn kept UCLA on its heels in transition. Bueckers was a magician at times, like on this touch pass to Kaitlyn Chen.

And then there was the first-year Strong, who met the moment in her first-ever Final Four appearance, consistently knocking down big shots to keep the Bruins at bay.

UConn cruised down the stretch, to the point Bueckers even hit the bench with the team up 70-41 with just over five minutes remaining.

And now this sets up a potentially classic matchup with South Carolina, which took down Texas 74-57 earlier in the evening to clinch its championship spot.

This marks the second time that South Carolina and UConn will face off in the national championship. In 2022, the Gamecocks defeated the Huskies 64-49 behind 26 points from Destanni Henderson.

Bueckers and Fudd, who started that game, are obviously out looking for payback. The Huskies could very well get it based on how they've been playing in this tournament and especially Friday.

UConn also has a massive win over South Carolina this year, having crushed the Gamecocks 87-58 on Feb. 16.

Chances are this game won't result in a 29-point blowout. Fans are ultimately hyped for the matchup, especially given how great both teams looked Friday.

Tipoff in Tampa will take place on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.