University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Villanova
No. 1 UConn to Face Villanova in BIG EAST Semifinals
3/6/2021 9:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The top-ranked and top-seeded UConn women's basketball team (22-1) faces No. 5-seed Villanova (15-5) in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals Sunday at 3 p.m. in Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will air on FS1 and 97-9 ESPN.
UConn advanced to the semifinals with a 77-41 win over St. John's Saturday. Freshman Paige Bueckers led UConn with 17 points while junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. UConn's defense shined vs. the Red Storm as the Huskies held St. John's to just 15 first-half points. UConn forced 21 Red Storm turnovers and scored 32 points off turnovers. The Huskies have advanced to the conference tournament semifinals every year since 1988.
Paige Bueckers joined Maya Moore as the only players to win BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Year in the same season with the announcement of the BIG EAST regular season honors this week. Bueckers and junior Christyn Williams were unanimously named to the All-BIG EAST First Team while Bueckers was joined unanimously by Aaliyah Edwards on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
Junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa was selected as Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was tabbed to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Edwards earned Sixth-Woman of the Year honors. Geno Auriemma was named conference Coach of the Year for the 17th time in his career.
UConn has won 25 conference tournament titles, including 18 as members of the BIG EAST. This was the Huskies' 27th season winning a regular season conference title. Including tournament games, UConn has won 157 straight against conference opponents, dating back to 2013.
UConn is 37-17 all-time vs. Villanova. The Huskies and Wildcats only met once this season on Dec. 22. Paige Bueckers and Olivia Nelson-Ododa each scored 19 points to lead UConn past Villanova, 90-52.
Villanova advanced to the semifinals with a 78-72 win over DePaul in overtime Saturday. Sophomore Maddy Siegrist leads the BIG EAST with 23.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Head coach Denise Dillon is in her first season.
