TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn't even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title game, leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament.

Strong finished with 22 points and Fudd scored all of her 19 points in the first half for the second-seeded Huskies, who are one win away from their 12th national championship and first since the team won four straight from 2013-16, led by Breanna Stewart. The eight-year title drought is the longest for the Huskies since they won their first in 1995.

"We aren't worried about the past. Every single day you walk into the gym and live up to the standard of playing UConn basketball," Bueckers said. "Not comparing yourself to other teams and players before. We want to fill their shoes and make them proud. Wear the jersey with pride."

UConn will face defending champion South Carolina on Sunday for the title after the Gamecocks beat Texas 74-57 earlier Friday night. It's a rematch of the 2022 championship game, which the Gamecocks won 64-49. The teams met in February and UConn shocked South Carolina with a 29-point road victory.

"They've played basketball at an exceptionally high level when you think about the Final Fours they've been too and the consistency in their program," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "The ability to win national championships multiple times and (they) are in a position to win back-to-back ones."

Bueckers, the likely top pick in the WNBA draft on April 14, finished with 16 points after topping 30 in each of the previous three games for the Huskies (36-3).

"If Paige had 16 last year, we wouldn't have made it to the Final Four," Auriemma said. "If she had the game she had today the previous year, it would be almost impossible for us to win."

All-America center Lauren Betts scored 26 points for top overall seed UCLA (34-3).

UConn got off to a hot start with Strong and Fudd leading the way. Even when shots looked off, they found their way in. Fudd, one of the best shooters in the country whose career at UConn has been interrupted by multiple injuries, banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key, prompting Auriemma to throw his arms in the air and smile.

"It's just so much fun to watch her play with joy and be at this stage," Bueckers said of Fudd. "You see all the ups and downs, the bad days, the good days and to be at this spot where it's the light at the end of the tunnel and for her to perform and be at this stage, it means everything to us."

The Huskies led 23-13 at the end of the first quarter. They continued the onslaught behind Fudd to open a 42-22 advantage at the break. Bueckers had the play of the half with a touch pass in the air to Kaitlyn Chen for a layup late in the second quarter.

UCLA never threated in the second half as the 6-foot-7 Betts had little help. UConn ended up breaking its own record for margin of victory in the Final Four or national title game — the Huskies won the 2013 championship by 33 points over Louisville.