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Paige Bueckers makes triumphant March Madness return as UConn women rout Jackson State

Paige Bueckers scored 28 points and Ashlynn Shade added a career-high 26 as UConn rolled in its first-round matchup against Jackson State 86-64 in Portland’s Regional 3.

Bueckers, playing in her first NCAA Tournament in two years because of knee injuries, also had 11 rebounds and seven assists. Shade hit four of UConn’s nine 3-pointers, and Aaliyah Edwards returned from a two-week absence because of a broken nose to score 20 points and pull down 10 rebounds.

Jackson State (26-7), the SWAC tournament champion and No. 14 seed, was sloppy, committing 16 turnovers and shooting 35%. The Tigers went three minutes or more without scoring a field goal three different times during the game.

The No. 3 seed Huskies also asserted their dominance in the paint, scoring 32 points on layups and outrebounded the Tigers 45-36.

UConn (30-5) plays the winner of No. 6 seed Syracuse and No. 11 Arizona in the next round.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paige Bueckers, UConn basketball roll into March Madness second round