In Uncasville, Connecticut, Paige Bueckers delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 24 points to propel the third-ranked UConn to a 70-50 victory over 22nd-ranked Creighton, securing the Big East championship title on Monday night. Azzi Fudd contributed 13 points to the effort.
This triumph marks UConn’s 23rd Big East title and their fifth consecutive championship win following their reunion with the conference in 2021. For Creighton, this championship game was their first appearance since 2016, when they faced defeat against St. John’s.
Sarah Strong was a vital player for the Huskies, contributing 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six steals. UConn demonstrated dominance from the start, launching the game with an 11-point streak. On the other hand, Creighton’s top performer, Lauren Jensen, scored 13 points. Known for averaging over nine 3-pointers per game and maintaining a 37% success rate from beyond the arc, the Bluejays faced setbacks against UConn, managing only six out of 23 from three-point range, with five occurring in the latter half of the game.
A closer analysis reveals that Creighton has maintained a strong season, only facing defeats against high-caliber teams like UConn (on three occasions), UCLA, South Dakota State, and Kansas State. With their impressive season performance, Creighton might prove formidable in the NCAA Tournament irrespective of their seeding.
Since their February 6 loss to Tennessee, UConn has been unstoppable, securing every subsequent victory by at least 19 points, including a notable 29-point win against South Carolina. With such a strong track record, UConn enters the NCAA Tournament as one of the top contenders.
A critical moment in the game arose when UConn secured the initial 11 points while Creighton experienced a series of five turnovers and failed to score on their first five field attempts. Although Creighton attempted a comeback with a seven-point streak, UConn responded assertively with a 16-4 surge, closing the first quarter with a 27-11 lead.
Turnovers were a significant issue for Creighton with their coach, Jim Flanery, emphasizing the importance of managing them before the game. The Bluejays committed seven out of their total 19 turnovers within the first quarter, which impeded their ability to recover.
Both UConn and Creighton now await the announcement of their NCAA Tournament seeding, which will be disclosed on Sunday night.
