UConn tops Indiana to advance to Elite Eight

Mar. 26—BRIDGEPORT — For much of the season it seemed the UConn women's basketball team would not reach this point.

But here the Huskies are — through the injuries, illness, and inconsistencies that plagued their season — with a chance to advance to the NCAA Final Four.

Paige Bueckers and Christyn Williams had 15 points each as No. 2 UConn downed third-seeded Indiana 75-58 in a Bridgeport Regional semifinal game at Total Mortgage Arena.

"There was a time during this season when I actually thought just making the NCAA tournament was in jeopardy," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "You never knew if we were ever going to get back to having more than six or seven players. It just seemed like, 'This is it. This is what it's going to be like for the rest of the year. You got six healthy players, maybe seven maximum, and then you cross your fingers.'

"As it happened, little by little we got everyone back and we started playing really well. We got contributions from a ton of people and here we are. Our players sit in that locker room and they have a lot of tradition on their backs. That sometimes is enough to carry you."

The Huskies (28-5) will play top-seeded North Carolina State in Monday's regional final. The Wolfpack came from behind to defeat No. 5 Notre Dame 66-63, taking the lead on Raina Perez's steal and layup with 14.8 seconds to go.

UConn and North Carolina State met in the 1998 Elite Eight in Dayton, Ohio. The Wolfpack, under Hall of Fame coach Kay Yow, rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to win 60-52 and reach their only Final Four.

The teams last played in the 2007 Sweet 16 with the UConn win ending Yow's career at North Carolina State. They are slated to play in the regular season next year.

The Huskies have won 13 straight and 19 of their last 20.

They are in the Elite Eight for a NCAA record 16th consecutive season and will be in search of their record 14th Final Four in a row. They are 27-2 overall in Sweet 16 games.

"Playing Indiana is probably as difficult of an assignment as there is for your guards," Auriemma said. "Their guards put so much pressure on your guards. They're so aggressive with the ball. And I thought we did an amazing job defensively."

UConn trailed by as many as five before an 8-0 run to end the first quarter gave it a 21-18 lead. It was 37-33 at halftime after Aleksa Gulbe hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Hoosiers.

The Huskies then opened the third quarter with 16 unanswered points — including seven by Bueckers and six by Williams — to lead by 20.

"We didn't really like the way the first half ended," Bueckers said. "So just turning it around, and I think that starts with our energy on defense always. One that picks up, our offense is better.

"We started pushing the ball in transition more and got a few easy buckets there. We played with a lot better pace and better energy coming out in that second half."

The Hoosiers got it back to 11 with 5:58 left but Olivia Nelson-Ododa assisted on a Bueckers hoop and scored herself to put it away.

"Nobody is going to lose to you in this tournament," Auriemma said. "You've got to go out and beat them. It's getting harder and harder every year, let me tell you."

Azzi Fudd added 13 points for UConn while Nelson-Ododa recorded a double-double (10 points, 14 points). Aaliyah Edwards contributed nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Huskies out-rebounded the Hoosiers 39-27 and had a 46-32 advantage in points in the paint.

"(Williams and Nelson-Ododa) played like they didn't want their season to end," Auriemma said.

Ali Patberg, in her seventh college season, finished her career with 16 points for the Hoosiers. Grace Berger added 13 points but was held in check most of the way by Williams. Berger had no assists and four turnovers in 36 minutes.

Indiana finishes 24-9 after returning its starting lineup from its 2021 Elite Eight team. It was the Hoosiers' second straight Sweet 16 appearance.

It was also their first game against UConn.

"We expected to come in and the goal was to get them on their heels early," Indiana coach Teri Moren said. "This is a veteran group. They're an experienced group. We've been in big moments before, played a lot of really, really great teams. I knew this group was going to come in and not blink. We were here to win the game.

"I loved the start we got off to. I didn't like the third quarter. If I could have that one back, that's what I would want back."

The Huskies have won 93 straight against first-time opponents dating back to a loss to Georgia at Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 15, 1996. They have also won 26 in a row against Big Ten opponents dating back to a loss to Michigan State in Hartford on Dec. 29, 2004.

For coverage of all sports in the JI's 18-town coverage area, plus updates on the UConn women's basketball team and head coach Geno Auriemma, follow Carl Adamec on Twitter: @CarlAdamec, Facebook: Carl Adamec, and Instagram: @CarlAdamec.