History is within reach
Breanna Stewart and Connecticut will try to win their fourth straight NCAA title.
CONNECTICUT 80 OREGON STATE 51
INDIANAPOLIS — Breanna Stewart said she wanted to win four titles in her time at Connecticut.
Now, after a record rout, the Huskies are one victory away from a fourth consecutive national championship to fulfill Stewart’s goal. A feat never accomplished in women’s basketball.
Morgan Tuck scored 21 points and Stewart added 16 to help Connecticut beat Oregon State, 80- 51, on Sunday night in the women’s Final Four.
“I think it sunk in when we were going back to the locker room all excited,” Stewart said. “One game left and we’re exactly in the position we want to be in. Now it’s practice tomorrow. National championship game Tuesday.”
If Connecticut does win Tuesday night, Coach Geno Auriemma will have an 11th national championship, moving him past vaunted UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden for the most all time.
“I don’t know what I can do to help them except keep reminding them all the time, ‘ This is your spot, you’ve owned this spot for the last three years,’ ” Auriemma said.
The 29- point spread was the biggest margin of victory in women’s Final Four history, surpassing the 28- point win by Tennessee over Arkansas in 1998. It was Connecticut’s 74th consecutive victory, the second- longest winning streak in NCAA and school history.
Stewart wasn’t much of a factor for the Huskies in the opening 20 minutes. The three- time Associated Press player of the year picked up two quick fouls and didn’t score her f irst points until she hit a turnaround jumper with three minutes left in the half.
The she quashed any thoughts of an Oregon State rally, scoring 14 points in the second half for Connecticut ( 37- 0). Just as they had done in the previous 73 games, the Huskies won by double digits.