Historically, Notre Dame has given UConn more trouble than any other program. That also might prove true in this NCAA Tournament.
Unfortunately for the Irish, giving the Huskies trouble meant remaining in striking distance for three and a half quarters. Then, the rims that head coach Geno Auriemma had criticized eventually relented, with a late scoring surge from the No. 1-seed Huskies taking them to a nearly 20-point win, 70-52, over the No. 6-seed Irish.
UConn advances to the Final Four for the 25th
time in program history at 38-0, riding a 54-game winning streak.
Throughout the first half, Notre Dame prevented UConn from pulling away. The Irish trailed by seven points at the break, 32-25. Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd were both held in check, combining for a season-low 10 points in the first half. Blanca Quiñonez served as the source of scoring for the Huskies, with freshman showing fearlessness in her first Elite Eight.
The third period began with a 6-1 Husky run, giving UConn at 12-point advantage, that seemed like the start of the wave that would overwhelm the Irish and wash away all their Final Four aspirations. Instead, Hannah Hidalgo drained a pair of free throws and then hit a jumper, effectively staving off the UConn tide.
The rest of a quarter remained sludgy, with the Huskies missing a stretch of 11-consecutive shots. Notre Dame, while failing to capitalize, also did not capsize.
UConn’s almost five-minute scoring drought was broken by Jana El Alfy, who provided the difference-making spark desired by a situational sub. Down the stretch of the third, she scored two basket and assisted a Strong triple. Still, the 47 points UConn scored through three quarters represented their lowest three quarter total of the season.
Notre Dame managed to hang on for about three more minutes. With just over seven minutes left in the fourth, Quiñonez hit her third three of the game, stretching UConn’s advantage to 15 points.
From there, the Huskies looked more like the team that has rolled to a thus-far undefeated season.
Strong scored 15 second-half points, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three blocks. The sophomore superstar’s impact also exceeded the stat sheet, as the ability of Strong to often initiate the UConn offense in the second half, and therefore prevent Hidalgo from pestering the primary ball handler and disrupting the Huskies’ offensive rhythm, was critical.
Quiñonez added 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers and grabbing eight boards. Fudd worked her way to 13 points.
Even as UConn intentionally diverted their offense away from her, Hidalgo still managed to nab three steals. Offensively, she fought her way to 22 points, while also grabbing 11 rebounds. No other Irish scored in double figures. The absence of an outlier scoring outburst, in addition the Irish’s rebounding deficit, doomed their already slim chances of an upset.
UConn now awaits the winner of No. 1-seed South Carolina and No. 3-seed TCU in Phoenix.
The Bruins make it back-t0-back Final Fours
I think we need to hear Cori Close’s halftime speech.
No. 1-seed UCLA trailed No. 3-seed Duke by eight points at halftime, 39-31, playing with hesitancy rather than urgency through much of the game’s first 20 minutes. The Blue Devils were active, athletic and aggressive; the Bruins were stiff, timid and a step slow.
All that changed at the start of the third period, and it stayed that way through the remainder of the game. A 70-58 win has UCLA headed to their second-straight Final Four.
Whether they flipped the switch, found their fire or were driven by desperation, UCLA dominated Duke over the final 20 minutes, playing with zip, pep and purpose.
And at the literal center of the Bruins’ success was Lauren Betts.
Defended effectively by Duke in the first half, Betts established deeper position, made quicker decision and got after on the glass with greater oomph after halftime. The Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year finished with a 23-point and 10-rebound double-double, along with five blocks.
The Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year also stepped up for the Bruins. Angela Dugalić played with a poise earned through experience, seeming to score all of her 15 points at crucial moments.
Because of UCLA’s more intentional second-half offensive process, Duke had trouble using their defense to fuel their offense. And instead trying to put Betts in ball-screen situations and drain midrangers over her deep drop coverage, something Taina Mair did to great success in the first half, the Blue Devils seemed spooked by the possibility of a Betts swat, misfiring around the basket due to the fear she inspired.
That the Blue Devils, a team dependent on 3-point shooting to raise their offensive floor, made only one from deep, shooting 1-for-13, didn’t help their cause. It was a particularly rough afternoon for Ashlon Jackson, as the Sweet 16 hero shot 0-for-5 from 3 and 0-for-8 overall. Mair led Duke with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The Bruins’ championship-or-bust season is now back at the Final Four stage, where UCLA will meet either No. 1-seed Texas or No. 2-seed Michigan.
