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Thank you for reading my blog!!
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Can it be true? This team is still getting better and better?
Against a terrific offensive team, UConn held Iowa to 15 points below their scoring average and UConn scored 10 points more than their season scoring average.
The Huskies team defense was terrific. Christyn Williams did a great job on the nations leading scorer, Caitlin Clark, and Evina Westbrook also helped out. They put a help defender on her occasionally as well. And then they switched out to a zone defense here and there. It really had Iowa off their game. They only shot 43% from the field, off their average of 52%.
Offensively, it was no surprise that UConn was able to put up 92 points against the weak defense of Iowa. Even so, the Huskies were just outstanding in getting the ball to the open player. They shot 54.8% on the game, 43.5% on threes and had an amazing 30 assists on their 40 baskets. Wow.
Individually, the Huskies were just amazing. There were some out of this world performances.
Every player in the starting five was just terrific in this game.
Olivia Nelson Ododa decided to not shoot in this game. But she had 7 assists, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. So unselfish. And she knows what is there for her and takes it.
Aaliyah Edwards started the game like a ball of fire. I don't see how Geno takes her out of the starting lineup, even if Muhl can play the next game. She showed all her offensive skills. Edwards is do efficient. 9-11 from the field for her 18 points.
The guards in this game showed me, at least, that they are the best in the country. All three were fantastic in this game. It's hard to give player of the game award out here.
Christyn Williams led the team with 27 points. She was so aggressive out there, taking 23 shots. She has figured out how to use her strong body to her advantage on drives to the basket and her ability to finish with either hand equally makes her impossible to stop.
Paige Bueckers had a slow start, missing everything on her first shot and even had an air ball on a three pointer. But she finished strong as always and ended up with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. What a great line. Can't do any better than that.
Or can you????
Evina Westbrook is playing like this is her last season at UConn and it might just be. She was just outstanding in this game. Her stats were unreal. She had 17 points on 7-9 shooting, 3-5 on threes and she added 9 rebounds and 10 assists. Yes, your two starting guards had 8 and 10 assists. I'm dumbfounded.
The bench didn't play a ton of minutes but Aubrey Griffin held on the boards and defensively. And Anna Makurat. Hitting two three-point shots, going 2-2, was big for her. That smile was so nice to see.
My favorite part of the game? After Anna's second three pointer, Paige ran by Geno with his back turned and she poked him on the butt. The look when he turned around was priceless. I'm hoping someone made a YouTube video of that moment. I'll be looking for it. And ask and you will receive. Link.
So it's on to the Elite Eight against......BAYLOR!!!
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Up next is Baylor, who seems to be the favorite in this part of the bracket by many pundits, Well, mostly at ESPN. Yes, pretty much Charlie Creme. What will he say now? He had them favored in the tournament because of their margin of victory and their newly found three point shooting in the first two games of the tournament.
Well, Baylor needed overtime to beat Michigan by 3 points. Goodbye big margin of victory.
And they shot only 3-10 in this game. Did that newly found three point shooting shoot it's load?
Baylor was fortunate to win this game against a good but not great Michigan.
If you go by how the teams looked, UConn should win. But that never works that way.
Look for my UConn/Baylor Pregame report coming soon!!!
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UPSETS!!!!
The Mercado Region had two upsets in the Sweet Sixteen games and now we have No. 3 Arizona taking on No. 4 Indiana in the Elite Eight game. UConn, if they can get by Baylor, would take on the winner of that game.
Arizona easily took care of Texas A&M with ease, winning 74-59, who had been living on borrowed time in this tournament. They were just outplayed tonight by a hot shooting Arizona team. Arial McDonald was exceptional in this game scoring 31 points and hitting 6-12 three pointers. So now there is only one team left from the overrated SEC.
Indiana did a great job on NC State and once they had the lead at the half, they never lost it. Personally I thought that NC State shouldn't have been a No. 1 seed. Switch Baylor and the Wolfpack and the brackets would have been much more reasonable.
Four more games Sunday to settle who will play in the rest of the Elite Eight games.
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MERCADO REGION
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
No 4. Indiana vs No. 3 Arizona Monday 9:00 ET ESPN
HEMISFAIR REGION
Sweet Sixteen
ALAMO REGION
RIVER WALK REGION
Sweet Sixteen
No. 1 UConn 92 No. 5 Iowa 72 (Links in UConn Section)
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By David in Naples
At the half of today’s victory over Iowa, Paige had only made 3 baskets, UConn had more turnovers by 6-5, the Huskies had 0 free throws and Iowa had 7 made threes. UConn might have been losing, but instead was leading by 14 points. The Huskies, with Paige a bit off, picked up the slack and scored 49 points in the 1sr half, out rebounded Iowa 26-12 and piled up 17 assists on 22 baskets. This is a balanced team with Paige as the leader.
The final margin was 20, with balanced scoring, rebounds and assists. Paige ended up with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Evina was 1 rebound shy of a triple double w/ 17 points, 10 assists and 9 boards. While Paige and E had 9 boards, Liv grabbed 11 to go with her 7 assists. But the star today was Christyn with 27 points and a super defensive effort on Clark from Iowa.
Balance in everything wins every time..!
Go Huskies..!
The final margin was 20, with balanced scoring, rebounds and assists. Paige ended up with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Evina was 1 rebound shy of a triple double w/ 17 points, 10 assists and 9 boards. While Paige and E had 9 boards, Liv grabbed 11 to go with her 7 assists. But the star today was Christyn with 27 points and a super defensive effort on Clark from Iowa.
Balance in everything wins every time..!
Go Huskies..!
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