MARCHING ’CONN
Huskies reach final eight, streak at 110
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — After watching UConn’s NCAA Tournament dominance mostly from the bench for three seasons, Saniya Chong finally made her mark.
Chong scored 16 points and came up with big plays on both ends of the court, and the topseeded Huskies beat UCLA, 86-71, on Saturday to advance to the Bridgeport Regional final.
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“I was looking at the stat sheet, that’s more points tonight than in maybe the three previous NCAA Tournaments combined,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “I said before the conference tournament at Mohegan that there are two guys we need them to play at, or above, their level and Saniya’s one of them. Today the effort and play of Saniya was, I thought, the difference in the game.”
It was the 110th straight victory for the No. 1 Huskies, who will face 10th-seeded Oregon on Monday night. The Ducks pulled off another surprise, topping third-seeded Maryland to advance to their first Elite Eight.
“They don’t know enough to be either intimidated or pressured or anything you’d associate with a team doing this for the first time,” Auriemma said of the Ducks. “They are having fun and enjoying the moment as they should.”
Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 14 rebounds for UConn (35-0), which shot 55.6 percent (30-for-54) from the field.
The fourth-seed Bruins jumped out a 9-2 lead over UConn before the Huskies scored 17 of the next 19 points. The seven-point deficit matched the Huskies’ largest this season. UConn led by nine after one quarter and 17 at the half.
“We like to say that to play with us it’s a marathon not a sprint,” said Gabby Williams, who had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
The victory tied Auriemma with former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt for most NCAA Tournament victories. The two Hall of Fame coaches have 112 tournament wins.
Jordin Canada had 20 points and 11 assists for UCLA (25-9).
“We had some mental lapses in the second quarter, and that’s when they got on their run,” Canada said.
The Bruins cut into a 19-point deficit in the third quarter, making it 62-50 with seven straight points late in the period.
But Collier and Chong combined to score the next 11 points for UConn during an 11-4 burst to put the game away.
“This is definitely one I’ll remember,” Chong said. “At this time it’s all or nothing.”
S. Carolina 100, Quinnipiac 58
In Stockton, Calif., Kaela Davis, A’ja Wilson and top-seeded South Carolina overpowered Quinnipiac from the opening tip, scoring the first 16 points and advancing to the Stockton Regional final to face Florida State. Davis scored 28 with five 3-pointers, Wilson added 24.
Adily Martucci and Jen Fay each scored 12 for 12th-seeded Quinnipiac.