USC put up a fight. But ultimately, Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong — and the absence of JuJu Watkins — proved too much to overcome.

Bueckers has scored a total of 50 points across those two games, including 28 when UConn defeated USC in the Elite Eight last year to advance to the Final Four. Bueckers has also recorded a total of 13 rebounds and eight assists and has shot 44.4 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from 3-point range against the Trojans.

UConn, which is favored to capture its 12th NCAA crown, will be joined by defending champion South Carolina, UCLA and Texas in Friday’s semifinals.