UConn's 26-3 run to end the first half

[alexrgct]

Here's how UConn went from down 22-23 with about nine minutes left in the half to up 48-26:

• Caroline hits an open three-pointer. 25-23
• Kelly makes a pretty layup, leading with her right hip, back partially to the hoop. 27-23
• Stef grabs a rebound and gets an easy putback layup. 29-23
• Morgan gets a clean steal and goes coast-to-coast. 31-23
• Kelly gets fouled and hits both shots on a one-and-one. 33-23
• Kelly gets fouled again, same result. 35-23
• Breanna is fouled in the act and hits two FTs. 37-23
• Breanna with an easy layup for two more. 39-23
• UK gets a cheap unintentionally banked three-pointer. 39-26
• Breanna with a decisive post move and one (made FT). 42-26
• Bria easily drives by her defender and gets to the rim for a layup. 44-26
• MoJeff gets in the passing lane, steals the ball, and goes coast-to-coast. 46-26
• Breanna is fouled on the floor, gets two FTs on the double bonus, and she makes them. 48-26

There's quite a lot to like about this sequence, but here's what stood out to me:

• Seven different players were on the court for UConn during this stretch. All seven scored.
• One of the players who was not on the court during this stretch? Only UConn's best overall player, KML, who was sitting with two fouls. There are points during this season, points not too long ago by the way, where two points combined from KML and Stef over nine+ minutes would have spelled big trouble for UConn against a quality opponent. Not only was it not big trouble, but UConn ran a quality opponent out of the building during this stretch.
• 9-9 from the stripe, and 21-23 overall for the game. That's a big deal.
• UConn got points off of second-chance opportunities and defense, which is exactly how ND has been able to squeak by UConn this season.

Not too shabby. Can UConn get 80 more minutes of that? If they can, they get an NC. If ND wins tonight, that semifinals game is going to be absolute insanity.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Nice analysis. With 2 minutes to play in the half Kentucky was done. You could see it among the coaches and players on the bench.

 

[Icebear]

Earlier in the season substitutions and mix and match often led to stale periods in our offense. One game after a particularly chaotic first half of subbing Geno and Shea had an exchange saying, "We not going to do that anymore are we?" The other replied, "No." It would seem, however, that those stretches and extensive inter-mixings have now borne their fruit. As whoever is on the court is comfortable with assignments and each other.