PAIGE Bueckers scored 15 points before leaving the game with a knee injury in the third quarter as visiting No. 7 UConn routed Big East Conference rival Villanova 83-52 on Sunday (Monday in Manila).
Bueckers dove for a loose ball along with the Wildcats’ Jasmine Bascoe, who rolled into her left leg. Bueckers, the projected No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, returned to the bench later in the game with an ice pack on her knee. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said he’s optimistic that Bueckers isn’t seriously injured.
Sarah Strong scored a game-high 21-points for UConn (13-2, 4-0), while Villanova (7-8, 1-2) was paced by Bascoe’s 12 points.
In other games, it was South Carolina 95, Mississippi State 68; Notre Dame 76, North Carolina 66; Southern California 92, Rutgers 42; Texas 90, Arkansas 56; LSU 73, Auburn 63; Maryland 74, Iowa 66; Oklahoma 87, Tennessee 86; Ohio State 92, Northwestern 62; Duke 69, Pitt 31; Kentucky 96, Vanderbilt 78; Alabama 68, Missouri 49; Cal 81, SMU 66; North Carolina State 91, Boston College 52; and Texas A&M 60, Ole Miss 58.
South Carolina 95, Mississippi State 68
Tessa Johnson came off the bench for 22 points as the Gamecocks shrugged off a slow start to earn a Southeastern Conference rout of the Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss.
Chloe Kitts added 17 points and 10 rebounds for South Carolina (14-1, 2-0), which trailed 22-13 after a quarter before outscoring Mississippi State 55-23 in the middle two quarters.
Jerkaila Jordan scored a game-high 24 points for the Bulldogs (13-3, 0-2).
Notre Dame 76, North Carolina 66
Hannah Hidalgo scored 24 points and dished out five assists as the Fighting Irish notched an Atlantic Coast Conference win over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Olivia Miles added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Notre Dame (12-2, 3-0), while Liatu King tallied 15 rebounds to go with eight points.
A real estate investment trust launched by Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi has made its Spanish market debut at 57.4 euros per share.
North Carolina (13-3, 1-2) got 16 points and nine rebounds from Maria Gakdeng.
