Paige Bueckers waited two years for UConn's matchup with Jackson State on her home court Saturday. It was the 22-year-old's first appearance in the NCAA women's tournament in 720 days, and she didn't miss a beat.
She was the first player to score for UConn with a quick jumper, which she followed up with a highlight steal and layup three minutes later.
The redshirt junior went on to score 28 points in her long-awaited return to the tourney, helping the Huskies to an 86-64 win. Bueckers was impactful in every area of the box score, adding 11 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block to her final stat line.