UConn, Oregon State to meet in women’s Final Four
Connecticut is headed back to the Final Four, thanks to its stellar senior class of Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson.
The All- American trio took control when Texas was making a run in the third quarter to help UConn to the 86- 65 victory Monday night, sending the Huskies to the national semifinals against Oregon State.
“We’re the seniors, and we’ve got to make big plays in big moments,” said Jefferson, who had 11 points and nine assists. “They were on a run, and we really needed to step up.”
Tuck scored 22 points and Stewart added 21 points and 13 rebounds for host UConn, which is headed to the Final Four for the ninth straight time. The Huskies will be trying for a record fourth consecutive national championship.
Oregon State 60, Baylor 57:
Sydney Wiese scored 18 points, including three free throws in the final 33 seconds, and the Beavers advanced to the women’s Final Four for the first time.
Jamie Weisner, the Pac- 12 Player of the Year who was the regional Most Outstanding Player, had 16 points. Ruth Hamblin had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Beavers — playing on the road in their first regional final. Alexis Jones had 19 points for top- seeded Baylor.
Briefly: UNLV has hired Little Rock’s Chris Beard as its men’s basketball coach after one season with the Trojans. Beard replaces Dave Rice, who was fired in January. In his first season as a Division I coach, Beard, 42, led the Trojans to 30 wins and the program’s fifth NCAA Tournament bid. ... USC head coach Andy Enfield has received a contract extension that runs through the 2021 season. ... Lyonell Gaines scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Morehead State to an 86- 83 victory over Nevada in the opening game of the College Basketball Invitational finals. Game 2 of the best- of- three series will be played Wednesday at Reno.