Wanted to comment right after the game, but I needed to calm down. What a game!
Some thoughts. Olivia Miles looks like Paige of last season and Hailey Van Lith is not far behind.
Most important first half statistics - UConn 1-5 from foul line and NC State 9-9 and only 3-13 from 3-point range. Wonder about Geno’s decision to bring in Edwards to take Dorka’s foul shots after her injury. Ducharme is a much better foul shooter and Edwards could be brought into game after she makes the two shots. UConn got some separation when Nika in game, but she only played 4-5 minutes in second quarter.
The situation was not good at the end of the third quarter (44-43), with the Huskies being only 3-18 from 3-point range and with neither Nika nor Caroline playing. NC State took over the game in the 4th quarter, but couldn’t put it away.
The Huskies did not really play well enough to win except at the end and in the two overtimes - foul trouble with the bigs, terrible 3-point shooting, poor foul shooting (1-8 at one point), and some unusual substitution patterns. A stats tells it all from 3-point UConn 5-23. Foul shooting NC State 16-19, UConn 1-8 with two big misses with under 30 seconds to play in regulation. Great games from Paige and Azzi with 8-8 foul shooting in overtime and 3-4 in double overtime. First game to show that Paige is back.
The Huskies were lucky to get the game into overtime and played well in to thanks to Paige and Azzi, but NC State a 3-point shot with 1 second to play. Second overtime. A classic and UConn gets 14th straight Final Four.
Next comes Stanford and the Huskies will be a distinct underdog. The Cardinal would have been the favorite anyway, but the mountain is much more difficult to climb without Dorka. To have any chance UConn's two remaining bigs will have to play well, foul shooting must be more consistent, and team will have to hit 3-point shots. Whatever happens this has still been a memorable season.
Some thoughts. Olivia Miles looks like Paige of last season and Hailey Van Lith is not far behind.
Most important first half statistics - UConn 1-5 from foul line and NC State 9-9 and only 3-13 from 3-point range. Wonder about Geno’s decision to bring in Edwards to take Dorka’s foul shots after her injury. Ducharme is a much better foul shooter and Edwards could be brought into game after she makes the two shots. UConn got some separation when Nika in game, but she only played 4-5 minutes in second quarter.
The situation was not good at the end of the third quarter (44-43), with the Huskies being only 3-18 from 3-point range and with neither Nika nor Caroline playing. NC State took over the game in the 4th quarter, but couldn’t put it away.
The Huskies did not really play well enough to win except at the end and in the two overtimes - foul trouble with the bigs, terrible 3-point shooting, poor foul shooting (1-8 at one point), and some unusual substitution patterns. A stats tells it all from 3-point UConn 5-23. Foul shooting NC State 16-19, UConn 1-8 with two big misses with under 30 seconds to play in regulation. Great games from Paige and Azzi with 8-8 foul shooting in overtime and 3-4 in double overtime. First game to show that Paige is back.
The Huskies were lucky to get the game into overtime and played well in to thanks to Paige and Azzi, but NC State a 3-point shot with 1 second to play. Second overtime. A classic and UConn gets 14th straight Final Four.
Next comes Stanford and the Huskies will be a distinct underdog. The Cardinal would have been the favorite anyway, but the mountain is much more difficult to climb without Dorka. To have any chance UConn's two remaining bigs will have to play well, foul shooting must be more consistent, and team will have to hit 3-point shots. Whatever happens this has still been a memorable season.