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UConn Routs Oregon State to Advance to Title Game Uconn Routs Oregon State to Advance to Title Game
(about 2 hours later)
INDIANAPOLIS — Twenty-five years ago, when Connecticut began its ascent to the summit of women’s college basketball, the program resembled the current Oregon State team, which this season unexpectedly captured the Dallas Region to reach its first Final Four. INDIANAPOLIS — Twenty-five years ago, when Connecticut began its ascent to the summit of women’s college basketball, the program resembled the current Oregon State team, which unexpectedly captured the Dallas Region this season to reach its first Final Four.
If the Beavers can replicate UConn’s success, solace can be found after the Huskies dominated them, 80-51, on Sunday in the N.C.A.A. tournament semifinals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.If the Beavers can replicate UConn’s success, solace can be found after the Huskies dominated them, 80-51, on Sunday in the N.C.A.A. tournament semifinals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
UConn’s Morgan Tuck scored a game-high 21 points. Breanna Stewart, who won her third straight national player of the year award on Saturday, finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds.UConn’s Morgan Tuck scored a game-high 21 points. Breanna Stewart, who won her third straight national player of the year award on Saturday, finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds.
“It’s hard to not be impressed by the things that Morgan Tuck did in that first-half run that we had,” UConn Coach Geno Auriemma said.
In 1991, UConn reached its first Final Four, losing to Virginia in the semifinals. Since that defeat, the Huskies have reached 16 additional Final Fours, including the last nine. A victory in Tuesday’s championship game would result in UConn’s fourth straight national title and 11th over all.In 1991, UConn reached its first Final Four, losing to Virginia in the semifinals. Since that defeat, the Huskies have reached 16 additional Final Fours, including the last nine. A victory in Tuesday’s championship game would result in UConn’s fourth straight national title and 11th over all.
Before Coach Geno Auriemma arrived in Storrs, UConn was an anonymous program. Postseason tournaments were foreign territory. Before Auriemma arrived in Storrs, UConn was an anonymous program. Postseason tournaments were foreign territory.
When Beavers Coach Scott Rueck took over at Oregon State, his alma mater, in 2010, the team occupied a space almost beyond obscurity. The previous coach, LaVonda Wagner, was fired amid allegations by players that she had verbally abused them, among other problems, and most of the team fled Corvallis.When Beavers Coach Scott Rueck took over at Oregon State, his alma mater, in 2010, the team occupied a space almost beyond obscurity. The previous coach, LaVonda Wagner, was fired amid allegations by players that she had verbally abused them, among other problems, and most of the team fled Corvallis.
Rueck held open tryouts to fill a roster that came to include soccer and volleyball players.Rueck held open tryouts to fill a roster that came to include soccer and volleyball players.
“It’s really exciting, the future,” Beavers center Ruth Hamblin said after the game. “I think we just set the bar high.”“It’s really exciting, the future,” Beavers center Ruth Hamblin said after the game. “I think we just set the bar high.”
Rueck had come from Division III George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., where he constructed his program in the Connecticut mold. He said last week that he would pore over team stats, comparing George Fox’s rankings in Division III categories to where UConn stood in Division I. In 2009, Rueck led George Fox to a 32-0 record and the national title. Rueck had come from Division III George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., where he constructed his program in the Connecticut mold. He said last week that he would pore over team stats, comparing George Fox’s rankings in Division III categories with where UConn stood in Division I. In 2009, Rueck led George Fox to a 32-0 record and the national title.
With Sunday’s victory, Connecticut moved to 37-0. It was the Huskies’ 74th consecutive victory over all and it extended their streak of N.C.A.A. tournament wins to a record 23. With Sunday’s victory, Connecticut moved to 37-0. It was the Huskies’ 74th consecutive victory over all, and it extended their streak of N.C.A.A. tournament wins to a record 23.
“That team made us pay no matter what they did,” Rueck said. “That’s why they are who they are.” The Beavers did not enter the game overwhelmed by the task before them. At one point during warm-ups, the team paused and coolly tried to stack eight basketballs at once in the hoop.
The Beavers did not enter the game overwhelmed by the task before them. At one point during warm-ups, the team paused and coolly attempted to stack eight basketballs at once in the hoop. But when the game tipped off, the ball went through the net less frequently, and the Huskies quickly demonstrated the chasm that separated the programs.
But when the game tipped off, the ball went through the net less frequently, and the Huskies quickly demonstrated the chasm that separates the programs. Tuck scored 10 of Connecticut’s first 15 points as the Huskies built a 9-point lead. Despite Tuck’s hot start, UConn faced a potentially perilous situation early when Stewart picked up her second foul just 2 minutes 5 seconds into the game. But Oregon State did not regularly challenge her on defense to draw a third foul, and UConn made nine of its first 12 shots to lead after the first quarter, 26-17.
Tuck scored 10 of Connecticut’s first 15 points as the Huskies quickly built a 9-point lead. Despite Tuck’s hot start, UConn faced a potentially perilous situation early when Stewart picked up her second foul just 2 minutes 5 seconds into the game. But Oregon State did not regularly challenge her on defense to draw a third foul, and UConn made nine of its first 12 shots to lead after the first quarter, 26-17.
Stewart was held scoreless over the first 17 minutes and had 2 points on two field-goal attempts as UConn led at the half, 47-26.Stewart was held scoreless over the first 17 minutes and had 2 points on two field-goal attempts as UConn led at the half, 47-26.
Despite Stewart’s unusually spotty contributions in the first half, compensation came by way of the reserves Napheesa Collier and Gabby Williams. The pair combined for 10 points, 4 steals and a stream of blocks, offensive rebounds and charges that propelled the Huskies to close the second quarter on a 15-2 run. When Oregon State guard Jamie Weisner missed a layup at the buzzer, she tossed the ball in the air in frustration. “Yeah, I wanted to take her out,” Auriemma said, referring to Stewart and her early foul trouble. “And she looked at me and she said: ‘I got it. I’m all right.’ ”
“They can hit from everywhere,” Weisner said. “People come off the bench and there’s no lag. They expose every weakness and make you pay for it, force you to do things you don’t want to do. Despite Stewart’s unusually spotty contributions in the first half, compensation came by way of the reserves Napheesa Collier and Gabby Williams. The pair combined for 10 points, 4 steals and a stream of blocks, offensive rebounds and charges taken that propelled the Huskies to close the second quarter on a 15-2 run. When Oregon State guard Jamie Weisner missed a layup at the buzzer, she tossed the ball in the air in frustration.
“I think what most impressed me was how destructive they were on defense and even offense,” Stewart said of Collier and Williams.
Sydney Wiese led Oregon State with 13 points, but the Beavers could never put together strong runs — only once did they make three baskets in a row. Eighteen turnovers further sabotaged their cause, and UConn never trailed.
“They can hit from everywhere,” Weisner said. “People come off the bench, and there’s no lag. They expose every weakness and make you pay for it, force you to do things you don’t want to do.”
Despite a crisp first half, UConn received troubling news when it was determined that the freshman starter Katie Lou Samuelson had broken a bone in her left foot. She returned to the bench area early in the third quarter wearing a walking boot.Despite a crisp first half, UConn received troubling news when it was determined that the freshman starter Katie Lou Samuelson had broken a bone in her left foot. She returned to the bench area early in the third quarter wearing a walking boot.
After the game, Auriemma guessed that the injury had happened on one of UConn’s first possessions, when Samuelson drove to the basket, but she continued to play on.
“It wasn’t until late in the first half that we found out that there was something wrong,” Auriemma said. “Then, by halftime, when we were in the locker room, we knew that when she wasn’t back in the locker room right away, it had to be something.”
Without Samuelson at forward, Stewart took over on offense, going 6 for 8 from the field in the second half, during which UConn led by as many as 34 points.Without Samuelson at forward, Stewart took over on offense, going 6 for 8 from the field in the second half, during which UConn led by as many as 34 points.
Sydney Wiese led Oregon State with 13 points, but the Beavers could never put together strong runs — only once did they make three baskets in a row. Eighteen turnovers further sabotaged their cause, and UConn never trailed. When Stewart exited the game with 2:48 remaining, having helped her team claw within a victory of her fourth national championship, she walked over to Samuelson on the bench and rubbed her head, which elicited a smile.
“I think my thoughts coming off the bench was just being there to kind of comfort her,” Stewart said. “I don’t know how much it’s going to help, but kind of giving her the idea that we got this.”