Arizona Shocks UConn and Storms to the N.C.A.A. Title Game

The Wildcats had a 32-22 lead at halftime, having held Connecticut to its lowest-scoring half of the season.

The Huskies appeared to be within spitting distance for much of the second half without really sparking a significant comeback. Most of its efforts were led by junior Christyn Williams, who had 12 points in the first half and finished with 20 to lead the Huskies. But Arizona never really let up, and Williams fouled out with less than five minutes to play.

“I think we came out with the wrong mentality,” Williams said. “We thought it was going to be easy, I guess, and we got flustered.”

Anytime the Huskies looked as if they might have a chance to take control, McDonald would hit an impossible-to-ignore circus shot — like the one that she made with Evina Westbrook’s hand directly in front of her face in the second quarter.

“I don’t think we’ve had to play against a guard as good as she is and she proved it tonight,” Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma said after the game. “We had no answer for her.”

Whenever Connecticut was on offense, the Wildcats would chant “D up!” over and over. Guards Shaina Pellington and Bendu Yeaney neutralized Bueckers, allowing the guard, who typically scores 20 points per game, just one field goal in the first half. Bueckers, who has averaged 52.4 percent shooting, finished the night with 18 points and shot 38.4 percent, missing eight of her 13 shots.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/03/sports/ncaabasketball/arizona-uconn-ncaa.html