Women's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 recap

Another round of the Women's NCAA Tournament has come to a close. See all of Saturday's action here.

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 30: Jadyn Donovan #4 of the Duke Blue Devils and KK Arnold #2 of the UConn Huskies fight for possession of the ball in the second half of the game during the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at the Moda Center on March 30, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

Tyler Schank

(3) UConn 53, (7) Duke 45

Paige Bueckers scored 24 points to lead third-seeded UConn and its injury-depleted roster back to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 53-45 victory over No. 7 seed Duke.

A year after having to watch March Madness while sidelined by a knee injury, Bueckers was again the best player on the floor, lifting the Huskies into their 28th regional final. And this one will be among the more unlikely in coach Geno Auriemma’s 39-year tenure. UConn dressed eight players and played only six.

The Huskies move on to face top-seeded Southern California and fabulous freshman JuJu Watkins in the Portland 3 Region final.

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 30: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans, Bella Fontleroy #22 of the Baylor Lady Bears and Kaitlyn Davis #24 of the USC Trojans rebound in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 30, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

Steph Chambers

(1) USC 74, (5) Baylor 70

Freshman All-American JuJu Watkins drove the length of the floor for a go-ahead three-point play with 3:13 left and finished with 30 points, leading top-seeded Southern California past Baylor 74-70 and into the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.

Watkins scored nine straight points for the Trojans in the closing minutes and powered a decisive 8-0 run.

McKenzie Forbes added 14 points for USC.

Sarah Andrews scored 17 points for Baylor, which was making its 20th straight March Madness appearance and was vying for its first Elite Eight spot since 2021.

ALBANY, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drives against Jaylyn Sherrod #0 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 30, 2024 in Albany, New York.

Sarah Stier

(1) Iowa 89, (5) Colorado 68

Caitlin Clark had 29 points and 15 assists to lead top-seeded Iowa to an 89-68 win over fifth-seeded Colorado in the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Hawkeyes advanced to the Albany 2 Regional Final and a rematch of last year’s national title game against LSU. The Tigers, who beat the Hawkeyes in last year’s championship game, topped UCLA in Saturday’s earlier regional semifinal.

Clark got the Hawkeyes going early, driving to the basket for easy layups or throwing fantastic passes.

Aaronette Vonleh scored 13 points and Frida Formann had 12 for the Buffaloes, who trailed by double digits for the entire second half.

ALBANY, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Hailey Van Lith #11 of the LSU Tigers controls the ball against Charisma Osborne #20 of the UCLA Bruins during the second half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 30, 2024 in Albany, New York.

Sarah Stier

(3) LSU 78, (2) UCLA 69

Flau’jae Johnson had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Angel Reese put up her 26th double-double of the season and LSU beat UCLA 78-69 in the Sweet 16 to continue its quest for a second straight national title.

Reese had 16 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out late in the game for the Tigers, who closed the game on a 14-2 run. Aneesah Morrow scored 17 points and Mikaylah Williams added 12.

Lauren Betts had 14 points and 17 rebounds for UCLA. Londynn Jones and Gabriela Jaquez also had 14 points apiece. Jaquez hit a jumper that gave the Bruins a 67-64 lead with 2:46 left.

But LSU responded with its run, sparked when Reese blocked a shot by Betts, leading to a drive by Johnson that fouled out Rice.

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