Video: Briana Pulido made a memory of a lifetime in 2016 national championship

[TUCBTUD]

In 2016, there was four seniors on the UConn women's basketball team, the top three draft picks in the 2016 WNBA Draft and a future doctor (at that time). In the 2016 national championship game, senior Briana Pulido hit a three-point shot that gave her a lifetime memory. Hear from Polly and her teammates and coaches about that shot.



Note: this video was made the night of the game after they won.

 

[TUCBTUD]

Here's Geno's reaction today about the shot and the team going nuts after she made the shot

 

[Centerstream]

In 2016, there was four seniors on the UConn women's basketball team, the top three draft picks in the 2016 WNBA Draft and a future doctor (at that time). In the 2016 national championship game, senior Briana Pulido hit a three-point shot that gave her a lifetime memory. Hear from Polly and her teammates and coaches about that shot.



Note: this video was made the night of the game after they won.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but wasn't it a two pointer? Check the box score.

00:11

51
82

GOOD JUMPER by PULIDO,BRIANA

 

[Bald Husky]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but wasn't it a two pointer? Check the box score.

00:11

51
82

GOOD JUMPER by PULIDO,BRIANA

Yes it was.

 

[Blakeon18]

Could be absolutely wrong about this but in addition to the
wonderful reaction of her teammates I thought that Geno's immediate
reaction was the following:

Just a few seconds left in the game....huge lead....and it looked
to me that Geno was waving his arms at Briana to tell her to get
back on defense. My bet is she did exactly that...uhh...maybe she was afraid
that he would take her out if she didn't. Uhh...double doubtful on that.

I'm glad Geno mentioned Moriah's leap...on some basket...somewhere....she could have dunked.

 

[huskyd]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but wasn't it a two pointer? Check the box score.

00:11

51
82

GOOD JUMPER by PULIDO,BRIANA

Yes, Polly's shot was a (short) 2-pointer, but that doesn't detract from its being the cherry on the top of the NC soda.
All kinds of backstories here: this was the last basket scored in Stewie's last game. AND Stewie herself had recruited Pulido as a walk-on to play on the team that season. This was as close as a team comes to having a "pet" player, someone everybody cheered for and wanted a Barbie version of. Can you think of any others?
You may also remember that Polly got her nickname because UConn was lousy with Bre's, Bria's, Bri's) that year. Also, that the unassuming young woman was pre-med (though she never became a doctor). Like Tiffany Hayes (and Husky D), Pulido was a native Floridian. You now know at least 3 people who will be cheering for the U this week.
Strange how "small" things get locked in memory, while others are either forgotten, unremarked, or go unloved.

 

[Phil]

Yes, it was the two pointer as can can be confirmed by the box score:


Pulido worked on three-pointers in practice, and it is clear from the video she was intending to take a three pointer but may have stepped on the line. Sometimes when it's a close call the officials will pick what they think but go to the video for confirmation. I wondered if perhaps it was originally called a two, but changed to a three but that doesn't seem to be the case. The still the possibility that it actually was a three pointer but recorded as a two and given the 31 point margin with 13 seconds to go, the officials correctly assumed it wasn't worth spending the time to check it out.

I'm assuming the players referred to it as a three pointer because it was clear that's what she intended to shoot, and the fact that it's recorded as a two is a minor asterisk in the history book.

I've had the good fortune to meet with her parents on multiple occasions and her on a few occasions. She is a great testament to the program.

 

[Skeets]

LOL, I don't care what some zebra says, I'm calling it a 3, just because... 🙂

 

[HuskylnSC]

To me, considering all the accolades heaped upon all the UConn mega-stars, considering all the championship moments, the fact this one shot in a lop-sided victory, by a former walk-on bench player elicited such an exuberant joyful reaction from all the team and me sitting in my recliner is by far and away the most significant moment in UConn history. It demonstrated beyond any doubt that the greatest, most endearing trait in UConn basketball is family. Call me Uncle Spectator (with love).

 

[Next 12]

I have watched that game 30/40 times because of how the bench reacted for Polly on making that shot. She played 3 years on the team and if I remember correctly scored 19 points. But that 19 points got her 3 NC Championship rings. Congratulation Polly, you were a joy to watch. GO ALL HUSKIES!!!!!!!