The No. 1 UConn Huskies secured their place in the Elite Eight after a 63-42 victory against No. 4 North Carolina. The win marks the program’s 30th Elite Eight berth and 53rd consecutive win. UConn had to grind out the victory, trailing after the first quarter before finding their rhythm in the second half.
Huskies Overcome First-Half Challenges
UConn found themselves in unfamiliar territory at halftime against North Carolina. Despite being ahead 28-20, North Carolina’s tough defence made things difficult for the Huskies. UConn’s offense stalled, shooting just 36% from the field and 1-for-9 on 3-pointers in the first half. The Huskies forced 11 UNC turnovers but struggled to convert those opportunities into points.
Sarah Strong’s 11 points, along with 11 points off the bench from Blanca Quiñonez, helped UConn pull ahead, but it still resulted in the Huskies’ first sub-30-point first half of the season. According to Azzi Fudd, the first half felt like the team was rushing and needed a second wind.
Second-Half Surge Secures the Win
UConn responded after the break, grabbing the momentum for good. A 12-0 run to start the third quarter gave them their first 20-point lead of the game. Coach Geno Auriemma was pleased with the team’s quicker pace, which allowed them to score earlier in the shot clock and counteract North Carolina’s defence. The Huskies outscored the Tar Heels 37-13 in the second and third quarters, including 20-5 in the third.
Ashlynn Shade noted that the team became the aggressor coming out of half-time and hit them with the first punch. Fudd added that they felt more sure, calm, and confident in the second half. Strong led the team with 21 points and 10 rebounds, marking her fourth career 20-10 NCAA tournament game, the most in UConn history through a player’s first two NCAA tournaments. Quiñonez also contributed with 16 points, and Fudd added 10.
Confidence Boost for Future Games
Fudd believes the experience of having to grind out the win will give the Huskies more confidence going forward. She stated that figuring things out when things weren’t necessarily going their way was a great experience. UConn’s defense continued to shine, setting an NCAA record for single-season steals with 583 before the game concluded. In their second-round win Monday, the Huskies had floored onlookers with a first-half masterpiece against Syracuse, jumping ahead 65-12.
The experience of having to grind things out might have been what the Huskies needed as they pulled within three wins of an undefeated campaign and back-to-back national titles.