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SAN ANTONIO, TX - Before a record crowd of 29,619
to watch a collegiate women’s basketball game, the University
of Connecticut women’s basketball team dismantled rival Tennessee,
79-56, to advance to the National Championship game against Oklahoma.
The Huskies, with an undefeated 38-0 record, aim for their second
perfect season in program history.
UConn opened with a traditional quick start. After Tennessee’s
Brittany Jackson posted the game’s first points on a layup,
UConn registered eight unanswered points to key a 13-2 run and sprint
to the early 13-4 lead at the 14:38 mark.
The Lady Vols responded, cutting the lead to 13-9, before UConn
answered with seven straight points. Again, Tennessee chipped away
at the Husky advantage, narrowing the margin to five points at 20-15
on a layup by Shyra Ely with 9:23 remaining.
The five points would be as close as the Lady Vols would get to
UConn for the remainder of the first half, as UConn proceeded to
reel off a 16-5 run to open up its largest advantage of the half
at 36-20 at the 2:14 mark.
Sophomore Diana Taurasi (Chino, CA), who had a career-high 32 points
against Tennessee in the season’s first meeting between the
two schools, registered eight points during the UConn run en route
to 10 points in the half. Seniors Sue Bird (Syosset, NY) and Asjha
Jones (Piscataway, NJ) also chipped in 10 points during the first
half and Jones added eight rebounds.
The halftime score was 38-25 in favor of the Huskies. UConn’s
relentless defense limited the Lady Vols to a 28.9 field goal percentage
in the opening stanza.
To start the second half, the two teams played even in the first
four minutes before UConn blew open the game with a devastating
run. With the score 48-33 at the 16:47 mark, the Huskies recorded
a 16-3 run to break to the 64-36 advantage with 10:57 remaining.
UConn would never look back, rolling to the 23-point victory, the
most lopsided in the UConn-UT series history, and earning a spot
in the National Championship game. The Huskies will be aiming for
their third National Championship against Oklahoma, who defeated
Duke, 86-71, in the night’s first semifinal game.
Bird and Jones led UConn with 18 points apiece. Jones had her fifth
double-double of the season, adding 10 rebounds to her point tally.
Taurasi also posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds
while senior Swin Cash (McKeesport, PA) contributed 13 points for
the Huskies.
For the Lady Vols, who finish the season with a 29-5 record, Kara
Lawson had nine points and Courtney McDaniel also chipped in nine
points off the bench.
The National Championship game will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:30
p.m. EST Sunday night. Husky fans can watch the game from Gampel
Pavilion. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the viewing is open free
of admission to the public.
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