UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Paige Bueckers had 29 points as top-seeded UConn defeated No. 9 seed Providence 86-53 on Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena to advance to the semifinals of the BIG East women's basketball tournament.

UConn outscored Providence 45-18 after losing all-conference forward Aaliyah Edwards in the third quarter on an elbow to the face.

Bueckers also had nine rebounds and six assists. Freshman guard KK Arnold had 17 points and five assists while Edwards added 12 points for UConn (27-5) which will play the winner of the Marquette-Villanova game in the semifinals.

UConn led by 10 points at halftime but Providence pulled within six points on a basket by Marta Morales Romero.The Huskies responded with back-to-back three-point plays by Nika Muhl and Arnold.

Bueckers had 11 of UConn's final 13 points in the third quarter to put the Huskies up by 17 going into the fourth quarter.

Grace Efosa had 23 points for Providence (13-20).

Since returning to the BIG EAST in 2020, UConn is now 10-0 in the tournament. The Huskies reached the semifinals 1988-2013 and have advanced to the semis in each of their last 25 BIG EAST tournament apparances.