March Madness 2022: UConn reaches 14th straight Final Four, tops NC State in 2OT

In a double-overtime thriller that put UConn’s file streak of ladies’s Last 4 appearances at critical threat, Paige Bueckers got here via for the Huskies — and earned a visit house to Minneapolis.

The sensational sophomore scored 15 of her 27 factors after regulation, and UConn beat North Carolina State 91-87 on Monday night time to achieve its 14th straight Last 4.

“Two days in the past I stated, ‘Win or go house’, however we received and I’m nonetheless going house,” stated Bueckers, who missed two months with a knee harm this season. “That is loopy. I’m simply so excited regardless of the placement, regardless of the place it’s.”

Bueckers, who grew up 10 miles exterior the location of the Last 4, scored the primary 5 factors within the second additional time to elevate the Huskies (29-5), who will face defending champion Stanford within the nationwide semifinals on Friday night time.

Bueckers returned final month from the left knee harm that sidelined her for 19 video games, and in eight appearances earlier than this one, she wasn’t fairly the identical. However in opposition to N.C. State, she regarded just like the participant who was named AP Participant of the Yr in 2021. She was named the Most Excellent Participant of the Bridgeport Area.

“Thank God Paige got here again, as a result of she simply provides all people a lot confidence after which all people simply type of performed and all people took turns making performs,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma stated. “It was simply a tremendous basketball recreation and it was a fantastic showcase for our sport.”

Auriemma stated it was one of many biggest video games of his Corridor of Fame profession at UConn. The Huskies have been ranked No. 5 within the remaining AP Prime 25 earlier than the event; the Wolfpack have been No. 3, and each proficient rosters shined.

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma celebrates with gamers after defeating NC State in double additional time within the East Regional remaining faculty basketball recreation of the NCAA girls’s event, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Bridgeport, Conn.
(AP Picture/Frank Franklin II)

“It was simply superb. … Nobody desires to lose,” Auriemma stated. “Everybody was making large play after large play. nobody backed down from the second. It’s a disgrace one in every of us needed to lose. Can be nice if each of us may go.”

N.C. State was inside 86-84 late within the second OT. Christyn Williams made a free throw after which a layup with 21 seconds left to offer UConn an 89-85 lead.

Jakia Brown-Turner — who had pressured the second additional time on a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left within the first additional interval — then made a layup to get the Wolfpack inside two, however Williams transformed a layup off the inbounds to seal the win.

UConn had misplaced senior middle Dorka Juhasz to a forearm harm earlier within the recreation.

“This staff has been via a lot and it’s solely made us stronger,” Bueckers stated. “And if we see one in every of our sisters go down, we’re going to do it for her. All of us love one another, we’re all so shut. It simply signifies what we’ve been via all yr. Entire bunch of adversity, highs and lows, ups and downs. We stayed composed and we stayed collectively.”

MARCH MADNESS 2022: BUECKERS SCORES 15; UCONN BEATS INDIANA TO REACH ELITE 8

Brown-Turner completed with 20 factors for N.C. State (32-4), and Elissa Cunane scored 18. Williams had 21 factors for UConn and freshman Azzi Fudd had 19.

Each groups had probabilities to win within the remaining 30 seconds of regulation. UConn’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa was fouled with 28 seconds left and missed each free throws. On the following possession, Diamond Johnson dribbled down the clock and drove earlier than passing it again out to Kai Crutchfield, who was method off on a deep 3-pointer from the wing.

This was the primary double-OT recreation in girls’s NCAA Match historical past within the regional remaining or later. UConn received an additional time recreation for the primary time in its storied event historical past; the Huskies had been 0-5 after regulation.

N.C. State was attempting to achieve the nationwide semifinals for the second time in class historical past. The Wolfpack made it that far in 1998, beating the Huskies within the Elite Eight that season to advance. None of the present roster had been born then.

“This journey has been unbelievable and this staff has accomplished a lot and achieved a lot,” stated Cunane, a senior. “Though that is hurtful proper now, pleased with all we’ve accomplished this season. I couldn’t be extra pleased with the staff.”

Crutchfield, Raina Perez and Kayla Jones all got here again this yr utilizing their additional COVID-19 season that was granted by the NCAA to attempt to elevate the Wolfpack to new heights. They succeeded, advancing farther than the staff had in 24 years.

“What a legacy they’ve now,” coach Wes Moore stated. “One other step would have made it higher.”

The Huskies handled accidents and COVID-19 points all season and had their most losses since 2012, together with their first convention defeat in 9 years and their first loss to an unranked staff since 2012.

Connecticut gamers maintain up the East Area championship trophy after defeating NC State within the East Regional remaining faculty basketball recreation of the NCAA girls’s event, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Bridgeport, Conn.
(AP Picture/Frank Franklin II)

Issues have been trying up for UConn for the reason that staff began getting wholesome, beginning with Bueckers.

INJURED HUSKY

UConn suffered a significant blow when Juhasz went down within the first half with a scary-looking harm simply above her left wrist. She was fouled on a putback try and landed awkwardly when she tried to place her fingers right down to brace her fall.

Juhasz was on the ground in tears and was helped again to the locker room along with her staff up by seven factors. The Huskies prolonged the benefit to 10 earlier than N.C. State minimize it to 34-28 on the half.

She returned to the bench initially of the fourth quarter wearing warmups along with her arm in a sling.