UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Sarah Strong had 20 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots as top-seeded UConn defeated No. 5 seed Villanova 82-54 in the semifinal round. The Huskies will make their fifth-straight championship game appearance. 

Paige Bueckers had 23 points and six assists for her second 20-point game of the tournament. Azzi Fudd had 14 points and Jana El Alfy added seven points and seven rebounds for UConn.

Maddie Webber had 15 points while Ryanne Allen and Denae Carter had 10 points each for Villanova (18-14).

UConn led by as many as eight points in the first quarter. Villanova took the lead three times in the second quarter. Bueckers scored the next seven points to give the Huskies some breathing room as UConn led 47-37 at halftime. Villanova was held without a basket in the third quarter as the Huskies pulled away to post their 28th season with at least 30 wins.