OK, Geno.
UConn, a No. 2 seed, UConn defeated Indiana 75-58 to advance to the round 8 for the 16th consecutive N.C.A.A. women’s tournament. If the Huskies defeat N.C. State on Monday in Bridgeport, where the Huskies played Saturday before an approximate home crowd with all the accompanying cheers and charms, they will be guaranteed their 14th consecutive Final Four spot.
Indiana, the third seed, was the first to jump off the blocks. But perhaps most encouraging for UConn was how the Huskies demolished that lead with help from Paige Bueckers, the sophomore guard who dazzled women’s basketball last season and spent much of this one injured.
Bueckers was fluid in her movements and soared up and down court. Her shots didn’t always fall so easily, even though she scored 15 points, one of her most productive showings. Unfortunately, in December she broke her left knee.
She was, though, far from alone as UConn’s offense erupted and helped keep the Huskies from the kind of debacle that so often marked this season, an injury-and-illness-marked campaign that has been one of UConn’s most frustrating in decades.
Christyn Williams, a senior guard, scored 15 points. Azzi Fudd, a freshman point guard, added 13.
The Huskies believe that success is not about pinpoint shooting but a lot of it. UConn attempted 67 field goals, 19 more than Indiana. It missed most of them, and missed more often than Indiana.
UConn’s 3-point shooting percentage fared even worse.
But there would be no upset. In the first quarter, doubts began to fade. Fudd and Williams started an 8-point run. Indiana lost the lead right in the middle of that. It came very close to it again.
So much for Auriemma’s nightmare.
Source: NY Times
