Connecticut stretches win streak to 110 with victory over UCLA

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 top-seeded Huskies beat UCLA 86-71 on Saturday to advance to the Bridgeport Regional final.

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 Maryland to advance to their first Elite Eight.

Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 14 rebounds for UConn (35-0), which shot 55.6 percent (30 for 54) from the field.

Florida State 66, Oregon State 53

STOCKTON, Calif. — Ivey Slaughter jumped into the passing lane on Oregon State’s first possession of the second half and swiped the ball away, then drove the length of the floor in one of those timely defensive moments that has defined her final season at Florida State.

That momentum-changing steal was a big reason the third-seeded Seminoles rallied from way behind to advance into the Stockton Regional final, beating No. 2 seed Oregon State to set up an Elite Eight rematch of 2015 with topseeded South Carolina.

The Gamecocks won that one by six points. Slaughter finished with a career-high nine steals, a school record in the NCAA Tournament and also a top mark ever in the women’s regional round. Florida State had 16 steals total, and Slaughter also contributed 11 points and eight rebounds. She made 1 of 2 free throws with 3:41 left before Sydney Wiese missed yet another 3-point try on the other end during a tough day from deep, and Slaughter scored again to help extend her special senior season. She hopes it will end with the Seminoles reaching the program’s first Final Four.