UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- UConn center Aaliyah Edwards left the Huskies' Big East quarterfinal with Providence after taking an elbow to her nose.

The injury occurred as she was fighting for a rebound on the offensive end with the Friars' 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.

UConn responded to the injury by closing the quarter scoring 21 of the last 31 points.

Bueckers 3-pointer sent the Huskies into the fourth quarter leading 62-45. Edwards returned to the bench with a splint on her nose with just over five minutes left in the game and UConn leading 74-51.

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