An automatic bid to the women’s NCAA Tournament was on the line Monday in the Big East between two top 25 teams, and it went to No. 3 UConn and Geno Auriemma.
Behind a big night from Paige Bueckers and stellar defense, the Huskies dominated No. 22 Creighton 70-50 Monday night at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut to win their 23rd Big East tournament title.
With the win, UConn has now won 36 consecutive conference tournament games and its fifth consecutive Big East tournament title — quite a run for one of women’s college basketball’s greatest dynasties.
It was the first time the Huskies and Bluejays had met up in the postseason since UConn rejoined the Big East before the 2020-21 season.
Bueckers, a candidate for national player of the year, finished with a game-high 24 points and was named the Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player — the first player in the history of the Big East to win the award in three consecutive tournaments.
The three-time Big East Player of the Year added eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals on the night. In three tournament games, Buckers averaged 22.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Huskies jumped out to a fast 27-11 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. But on a night that Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and star freshman Sarah Strong combined for 50 points, the same amount of points as Creighton, it was UConn’s defense that stood out the most. Highlighted by its 19 forced turnovers (13 steals and five blocks), UConn held Creighton to 35.8% shooting from the field and 26.1% from beyond the arc.
The Huskies also held the Bluejays’ top two scorers, Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly, to a combined 25 points on a combined 9-of-25 shooting from the field.
Regardless of the outcome from Monday’s championship game, both programs were well positioned to make March Madness — with the only difference being UConn has now secured the Big East’s automatic bid. Entering the day, ESPN’s Charlie Creme had UConn as a No. 2 seed and Creighton as projected No. 8 seed.
Scroll below for a full recap and highlights from Monday’s Big East tournament final:
UConn vs Creighton women’s basketball score updates
This section will be updated at tip-off
UConn vs Creighton women’s basketball live updates
This section has been updated with new information
Final: UConn 70, Creighton 50
UConn defeats Creighton
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd lead No. 3 UConn to its fifth straight Big East tournament title with a commanding 70-50 win over No. 22 Creighton. It’s the 23rd Big East tournament title for the Huskies.
Bueckers finished with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field with eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. UConn’s defense was phenomenal all night, causing 19 turnovers and holding Creighton to 35.8% shooting from the field.
Creighton answering back
Creighton isn’t going down without a fight.
Geno Auriemma has seen enough, calling a timeout after Kiani Lockett hits a 3-pointer to push Creighton’s run to 6-0 over the last 57 seconds. UConn retains a 57-43 lead, but the Bluejays are outscoring the Huskies 9-4 in the fourth quarter.
Paige Bueckers hits 20 points
Paige Bueckers is up to 20 points on the evening with a jumper, which extends UConn’s lead to 57-40 with 6:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. Bueckers’ jumper ends a three-minute scoring drought.
It’s the 17th game this season that Bueckers has reached at least 20 points in a game, and her third in the Big East tournament.
Ice Brady picks up controversial foul
Ice Brady gets called for an illegal screen, as Paige Bueckers tried moving near the UConn bench. Molly Mogensen, who took the hit from Brady, then hits a 3-pointer for Creighton.
Third quarter: UConn 53, Creighton 34
UConn leads after three
The Huskies are one quarter away from winning their fifth straight Big East tournament title, as they lead 53-34 going into the fourth.
UConn had its worst quarter shooting of the night in the third quarter, as it only hit five of its 15 shots from the field in the frame. Paige Bueckers leads all scorers with 16 points.
A positive for Creighton in the third quarter was Morgan Maly. The veteran forward scored seven points in the frame alone after just scoring two points in the entire first half.
Azzi Fudd picks up second foul
Azzi Fudd gets called for her second personal foul of the evening. It comes right after Kaitlyn Chen turned over the ball for the Huskies, their 13th turnover of the night.
Something to monitor over the next 4:55 of the third quarter with UConn out in front 49-28.
Paige Bueckers gets scoring going
Paige Bueckers is up to 14 points on the night, as she switches her hands while going up for the easy coast-to-coast layup off the glass. She has now scored five of UConn’s last 12 points going back to the second quarter.
It is the first made basket of the third quarter for UConn after it missed its first four shots from the field. Creighton has yet to score in the second half, as it trails the Huskies 44-22 with a timeout on the floor.
First half: UConn 40, Creighton 22
UConn leads at halftime
A dominating first half by UConn gives the Huskies a commanding 40-22 lead going into the locker room at halftime.
Lauren Jensen attempted a 3-pointer on Creighton’s last possession in hopes of getting something started but it didn’t fall — a near perfect description of how the first half went for the Bluejays.
While the offense certainly was there in the first half for the Huskies, it was the defense for Geno Auriemma’s squad that stood out in the first 20 minutes: 15 defensive rebounds, 11 caused turnovers, seven steals and two blocks while holding Creighton to 35.7% from the field (10% 3-point shooting).
The Huskies are 20 minutes away from their 23rd Big East tournament crown.
Creighton calls timeout
Paige Buckets!
Bueckers hits a 3-pointer from the top of the key for her third triple of the night, and it forces Creighton to call a timeout. Huskies leading Bluejays 35-15 with 4:01 remaining in the second quarter.
UConn is 7-for-13 from 3-point shooting, compared to Creighton’s 0-for-7 shooting from 3.
UConn leads big at media timeout
Azzi Fudd is heating up from downtown as she hits a transition 3-pointer off the assist from Paige Bueckers. That makes three straight 3-pointers for Fudd, who now has a game-high nine points. Fudd’s 3-point shooting has been big for UConn over the last few weeks, and one of several reasons why the Huskies can make a deep run in March.
All momentum is with UConn here, as the Huskies have their largest lead of the night at 32-15 at the under-five media timeout in the second quarter. Creighton is on a 3:14 scoreless drought.
First quarter: UConn 27, Creighton 11
UConn leads by 16 points after first quarter
What a first quarter for the 22-time Big East tournament champions.
Azzi Fudd hits a 3-pointer in transition off a steal from Paige Bueckers just before the end of the quarter to put UConn up 27-11. It was quick two 3-pointers for Fudd in the final 1:37 of the frame after she was held scoreless for the previous eight minutes.
Creighton struggled mightily against UConn’s defense in the opening frame, as the Bluejays turned the ball over seven times and made just five shots from the field.
Paige Bueckers pushes UConn’s lead
A pair of triples puts Paige Bueckers on the board and extends UConn’s lead to 19-7 with a personal 8-0 run. Bueckers also had a pair of free throws at the charity stripe between her 3-pointers.
Creighton calls a timeout on the floor with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter.
Creighton responds quickly
Here come the Jays.
After a disastrous start — 0-for-4 shooting and five turnovers — to open the first quarter, Creighton has responded with a quick 6-0 run in the last 1:06 to bring the score to 11-6 going into the under-five media timeout. Lauren Jensen hit a pair of buckets for Creighton, while Morgan Maly has the other.
UConn has not scored in the last 2:34 after starting the game 11-0.
Creighton struggling offensively
UConn’s offense is causing mismatches and struggles for Creighton’s offense, which has been historically a top-ranked one in the Big East under Jim Flanery.
Bluejays are 0-for-4 from the field to start the night, as the Huskies lead 11-0 after the first five minutes.
UConn gets the scoring going
The Huskies are the first on the board with a jumper from center Jana El Alfy inside the paint. If UConn wins its fifth straight Big East conference tournament title on Monday, it will be because of its dominance inside the paint and scoring from Paige Bueckers, who is averaging 21.5 points through two tournament games this season.
UConn would extend its lead to 4-0 with a El Alfy layup on its next possession after causing a turnover on the other end.
Pregame
UConn-Creighton starters announced
Here’s a look at the starters for Monday’s game between UConn and Creighton:
UConn:
G Paige Bueckers
G Kaitlyn Chen
G Azzi Fudd
F Sarah Strong
C Jana El Alfy
Creighton:
G Kiani Lockett
G Lauren Jensen
G Molly Mogensen
F Mallory Brake
F Morgan Maly
UConn warming up ahead of Big East women’s basketball championship
Paige Bueckers and UConn have taken the court at Mohegan Sun Arena for pregame warm-ups ahead of Monday’s conference championship game against Creighton. UConn enters the night 44-1 all time at Mohegan Sun Arena.
What is UConn’s record in the Big East women’s basketball championship game?
UConn enters Monday’s game with a 25-6 record in the Big East conference championship game, per its game notes. A win Monday against Creighton would give UConn its 23rd Big East tournament title and its 30th overall conference tournament championship.
What channel is Big East women’s championship on today?
TV channel: Fox Sports 1
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)
Fox Sports 1 will televise Monday’s women’s Big East championship game between UConn and Creighton, with John Fanta (play-by-play), Kim Adams (analyst) and Allison Williams (sideline reporter) on the call.
Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, the latter of which carries FS1 and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
UConn vs Creighton women’s basketball time today
Date: Monday, March 10
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, Conn.)
UConn and Creighton are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on Monday, March 10 in the 2025 women’s Big East tournament championship game. UConn is 44-1 all-time at Mohegan Sun Arena, including a perfect 11-0 in the Big East tournament, per its game notes.
UConn vs Creighton women’s basketball history
Series record: UConn leads 11-0
UConn’s last win: 2025 (72-53)
Creighton’s last win: N/A
As noted by UConn’s game notes, the Huskies are 11-0 in their all-time series against the Bluejays.
UConn vs Creighton women’s basketball predictions, picks
Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports: UConn 70, Creighton 55
‘UConn, like it has twice before this season, will fend off Creighton yet again, this time taking home some hardware afterward. Paige Bueckers will finish out her final regular season with another conference championship, as she has done each of her five seasons with the Huskies.’
UConn vs Creighton women’s basketball betting odds
Game lines and odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, March 10
Spread: UConn -19.5
Over/under: 140.5
Moneyline: UConn (-5000) | Creighton (+1600)
UConn women’s basketball schedule 2024-25
Here’s a look at UConn’s last five results. To view the Huskies’ full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
Saturday, Feb. 22: UConn 86, Butler 47
Thursday, Feb. 27: UConn 72, No. 23 Creighton 53
Sunday, March 2: UConn 92, Marquette 57
Saturday, March 8: UConn 71, St. John’s (Big East Tournament)
Sunday, March 9: UConn 82, Villanova 54 (Big East Tournament)
Creighton women’s basketball schedule 2024-25
Sunday, Feb. 23: Creighton 83, DePaul 74
Thursday, Feb. 27: No. 5 UConn 72, Creighton 53
Sunday, March 2: Creighton 70, Villanova 55
Saturday, March 8: Creighton 72, Georgetown 70 (Big East Tournament)
Sunday, March 9: Creighton 73, Seton Hall 44 (Big East Tournament)
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