After Arizona handed Connecticut a humbling loss in final season’s Ultimate 4, Geno Auriemma, the Huskies’ head coach, was blunt about his staff’s degree of maturity.
“After we’re excessive and once we’re on high of the world, we expect every little thing’s nice,” Auriemma stated on the time. “And when issues don’t go our approach, there’s a pouty-ness about us. There’s a sense sorry for ourselves about us that you simply don’t win championships while you’re like that except you get fortunate.”
Earlier than Connecticut’s convincing 83-38 win over Fifteenth-seeded Mercer within the first spherical of the event on Saturday, Auriemma stated that his staff was extra skilled and extra full than it was final yr, however that the Huskies, a No. 2 seed, had not but confronted sufficient adversity to measure how a lot that they had matured.
“Groups act actually, actually mature when the ball’s going within the basket,” he stated. “It’s type of humorous about that, all proper? And rapidly they grow to be very immature when the ball’s not stepping into.”
Regardless of Mercer’s finest efforts within the first quarter to maintain the sport shut, Connecticut scored with ease with a balanced offensive assault, made straightforward buckets in transition and used its top benefit to dominate on offense and protection.
Paige Bueckers, the reigning nationwide participant of the yr, had been taking part in restricted minutes whereas recovering from an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear in her left knee in December. Bueckers, who has averaged about 14 minutes per recreation for the reason that damage, was aggressive on offense and energetic on protection Saturday. She completed with 12 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 25 minutes.
Christyn Williams, the Huskies’ main scorer with 14.6 factors per recreation, led the staff with 13 factors.
One of many Huskies’ greatest strengths throughout their 10-game profitable streak has been protection, which has improved after a handful of gamers missed video games with varied accidents.
Mercer shot simply 23.2 p.c and scored its lowest level whole all season. The Huskies’ full courtroom press compelled a number of Mercer turnovers. Connecticut scored 23 factors off 21 Mercer turnovers.
Connecticut has received 11 N.C.A.A. titles underneath Auriemma, however its final got here in 2016.
The Huskies struggled at instances this season, however many imagine their depth and protection could possibly be sufficient to hoist the championship trophy and atone for a number of seasons of disappointing finishes — disappointing, no less than, by their requirements.
Villanova upset Brigham Younger.
Maddy Siegrist averaged 25 factors per recreation this season, and that’s precisely what the nation’s second-leading scorer posted as she led No. 11 Villanova to a win over No. 6 Brigham Younger.
Siegrist, a 6-foot-1 junior, was chargeable for each area aim the Wildcats made within the remaining seven minutes of the sport, in addition to many of the free throws that sealed their victory.
“The ball is definitely going to fall in Maddy’s arms,” stated Villanova Coach Denise Dillon. “Down the stretch, we have been in search of her to make performs for us.”
The Cougars entered the event with simply three losses, together with a shock defeat by Gonzaga within the title recreation of the West Coast Convention event. No. 9 seed Gonzaga superior to the second spherical on Friday after beating Nebraska.
B.Y.U. contained Villanova early, dashing out to a double-digit lead within the first quarter. After that, each groups traded the lead till the very finish. The Cougars received inside 1 level of the Wildcats with 26 seconds left within the recreation, however couldn’t convert any potential game-winning photographs. Siegrist additionally blocked a late 3-point shot try.
“I couldn’t quit any 3s to No. 10,” Siegrist stated afterward about that essential block in opposition to Tegan Graham. “She already hit one in my face, she wasn’t going to get a 3 off.”
Villanova held Shaylee Gonzales, the West Coast Convention participant of the yr, to only 8 factors, lower than half of her season common. She managed to make eight assists, however was nonetheless comparatively quiet in what regarded on the outset like a matchup between two stars.
Siegrist regarded poised, even supposing this was her first profession N.C.A.A. event recreation. Some expertise got here from Brianna Herlihy, who led the Wildcats with 9 rebounds.
N.C. State left little doubt about its prowess.
North Carolina State, a No. 1 seed who’s making an attempt to make a Ultimate 4 look for the primary time since 1998, defeated No. 16 seed Longwood, 96-68, in Raleigh, N.C.
Longwood stored up with North Carolina State via the primary quarter because of Tra’Dayja Smith, who completed with 25 factors, and Kyla McMakin, who completed with 19, and headed into the second quarter with solely a 4-point deficit. However North Carolina State kicked into excessive gear within the second quarter and took off, extending its result in 42-21.
The Wolfpack unfold the wealth: Eleven completely different gamers scored for North Carolina State and 5 of them reached double figures, together with Raina Perez, who led the staff with 16 factors, in addition to Diamond Johnson and Jakia Brown-Turner. Freshman Aziaha James made her courtroom look within the fourth quarter with a splash, faking a cross then making a layup that drew the house crowd to their ft.
North Carolina State will face Kansas State on Monday in Raleigh, pinning 6-foot-6 Ayoka Lee in opposition to 6-foot-5 Elissa Cunane.
Ayoka Lee leads No. 9 Kansas State in her first event victory.
The coronavirus pandemic could have delayed the postseason ambitions of Ayoka Lee, Kansas State’s 6-foot-6 heart, for 2 years, however not. Lee and the ninth-seeded Wildcats outlasted No. 8-seeded Washington State in a hard-fought defensive battle, profitable 50-40 and denying the Cougars their first event win in program historical past.
Washington State was up seven factors at halftime, a lead that appeared substantial provided that the rating was simply 24-17. Lee had made a single area aim, whereas Washington State’s Leger-Walker sisters, Krystal and Charlisse, had mixed for 19 factors. Each artful guards, the New Zealand natives appeared in management early and capitalized on the Wildcats’ sluggish tempo.
However making an attempt to comprise Lee had gotten the Cougars into foul hassle, and so step by step she was in a position to assist Kansas State get answerable for the tempo and the scoreboard. Her deft rebounding and fast launch close to the basket make her an imposing risk to any staff that permits her to get place inside. The Cougars’ heart Bella Murekatete, who usually averages 10 factors and 7 rebounds per recreation, was held scoreless and grabbed simply three rebounds.
The matchup was so low-scoring that after the Wildcats have been greater than 5 factors forward, the sport felt all however over.
“When photographs weren’t falling, we dug deep,” Kansas State Coach Jeff Mittie after the sport. “That’s one thing that this staff has discovered: To not tie their protection to their offense. We’re shifting on due to that.”
Lee completed the sport with 20 factors and 15 rebounds, numbers that supply a glimpse of the type of authoritative play she is able to — and that the Wildcats will want as they attempt to make it to the spherical of 16 for the primary time in 20 years.
