UConn Comes up Short in Thrilling BIG EAST Tournament Final
Boxscore(.pdf)
Boxscore(.html) PISCATAWAY, NJ (March 11) -- Villanova senior guard Trish Juhline scored 18 points and hit two
clutch free-throws with 13 seconds left in the game, to lead the
Wildcats to a thrilling, 52-48, victory over the University of
Connecticut women's basketball team in the pressure-cooker of the BIG
EAST Tournament Final in front of a raucous crowd at the Louis Brown
Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey. The win gives 'Nova
its first BIG EAST Tournament crown since 1987 and breaks the Huskies'
record 70 game winning streak. The No. 14 nationally ranked
Wildcats now sport a record of 25-5 on the season. With the
loss, UConn's first since March 30, 2001, the Huskies slip to 31-1 on
the campaign and fail to win the BIG EAST Tournament for the first
time since 1993.
Villanova looked to slow the pace of the game from the outset, on
some possessions letting 15 seconds tick off the shot-clock before
advancing the ball into the front-court. The strategy worked as 'Nova
held the Husky offense to just 17 points in the first half.
Villanova's 20-17 lead at intermission marked the first time the
Huskies have trailed at halftime since February 1, 2001; a span of 86
games.
The Huskies stormed out of the gate in the second half and looked
to be more in control of the game's tempo battle when they took a
25-23 lead on Ashley Battle's (Pittsburgh, PA) fast-break lay-up.
Kate Dessart-Mager tied the contest
with a mid-range jumper at the 13:50 mark but Villanova would make
only one filed goal over the next 5:50 allowing UConn to mount a 12-2
run and take a seemingly insurmountable 36-27 lead. Villanova
would not lie down though and, amazingly, held UConn scoreless for the
next 7:02. The dry-spell allowed Villanova to construct a 15-0
run and take a 42-36 advantage. With Villanova holding its
largest lead of the game at 45-38 with two minutes remaining,
Connecticut Head Coach Geno Auriemma called time-out and drew up a
play to isolate All-American Diana Taurasi (Chino, CA). Taurasi
made a tough turnaround jumper, was fouled and drained the free-throw
to pull UConn to within four. A lay-up by Jessica Moore (Palmer,
AK) pulled the Huskies to within two points with 14 seconds remaining.
But Villanova was clutch from the charity stripe, hitting seven of its
eight free throws in the game's final 1:50 to seal it.
Taurasi and Moore were both named to the All-Tournament team and
each finished with 13 points. UConn finished 17-for-56 (30%)
from the field and 11-for-17 (65%) from the free-throw line while
Villanova made 13 of its 15 free-throw attempts (87%). UConn
continued its trend of out-working its opponents on the glass,
out-rebounding Villanova 42-33 including 16-6 on the offensive glass.
Juhline lead Villanova with 18 points and was named the Tournament's Most
Outstanding Player. Nicole Druckenmiller scored 13 points for 'Nova.
UConn, awaits its next opponent which will be announced Sunday, March 16 during
the NCAA Tournament Selection Show at 5:00pm on ESPN.
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