No. 9 UConn's Aaliyah Edwards leaves Big East quarterfinals with facial injury

Updated Mar. 9, 2024 5:07 p.m. ET

Associated Press

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — UConn center Aaliyah Edwards left the Huskies Big East quarterfinal with Providence on Saturday after taking an elbow to her nose.

The injury occurred as she was fighting for a rebound on the offensive end with the Friar's Sarah Bandoma with just over six minutes left in the third quarter and No. 9 UConn leading 41-35.

Bandoma was hit with an intentional foul after a review, but Paige Bueckers missed both foul shots.

Edward, who had 12 points in the game, lay on the floor crying in pain for several minutes before being helped to the locker room with a towel covering her face. The senior came into the game averaging 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

UConn responded to the injury by outscoring the Friars 45-18 the rest of the way to win 86-53.

Edwards returned to the bench with a splint on her nose and cotton in both nostrils with just over five minutes left in the game and UConn leading 74-51. Her status for Sunday's semifinal remained unclear after the game.

“Just to have her out there, just to see that she’s OK was huge,” UConn star Paige Bueckers said.

Top-seeded UConn (26-5, 18-0) has lost five players for the season with injuries and had just eight available players Saturday.

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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball