The UConn Women were in their 5th straight Final Four trying to send the senior class off with a bang and a three peat. The upstarts from Minnesota, a seven seed that upset Duke in the Elite 8 to get to New Orleans. Two All Americans, Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whelan...And a lot of help on both side set up and intriguing matchup..
Both teams settling in early, where the Gophers led 9-8 before the one run that would give the Huskies the lead for good, no matter how close Minnesota got..A 10-0 spurt, fueled by Taurasi and Maria Conlon, gave the Huskies an 18-9 advantage. And another Conlon hoop upped the lead to 11 at 31-20 that ultimately sent UConn to the locker room with a 37-29 lead. The Huskies shooting 52% where they also owned the paint and 2nd chance points...
Minnesota behind Whelan and Janel McCarville, started the comeback...numerous times within 4...everytime UConn got a big basket as the lead back to 8 at 43-35 on a Conlon 3 ball 4:15 in. Within 2 at 46-44 7:50 into the 2nd, Taurasi knocks down a triple...and later at 53-51 off a Taurasi miss, Barbara Turner the old fashioned three point play to lead 56-51. One more ? Sure, Ann Strother a dagger 3 to go backup 5 at 61-55 with 3:15 left that grew back to an 8 point lead.
The Huskies made 7 of their 9 free throws and to help cement a hard fought 67-58 win. And what balance, led by Taurasi's 18p-6r-3a-3b...Conlon 10p-4a..Crockett & Strother had 9 each, Ashley Battle 8 and 7 for Turner. The Huskies owned a 36-25 advantage on the glass. 38-28 in the paint, 15-9 second chance points....
One game left in Taurasi's career, and the Lady Vols would be waiting once again to write another epic script in the rivalry.
See this game at UConnHuskyGames.com