Gameday Preview: UConn women set for BYU in Sweet 16 showdown

Top-seeded Huskies looking advance to the Elite Eight for the ninth straight year

Well, it’s the Sweet 16 and the Connecticut women’s basketball team is in a very familiar place.  The No. 1 seeded Huskies advanced to the Lincoln Regional with two conceiving wins in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. They will face the No. 12 seeded BYU Cougars in the regional semifinal this afternoon at 4:30pm (ESPN) at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.

Yes, that is right – the Huskies (36-0) next opponent is the 12 seed. The Cougars (28-6) had two upsets in the opening rounds in Los Angeles to advance to the Lincoln Regional. They are the third 12^th seed to advance to the Sweet 16.

In a tournament that typically lacks the upset, there were plenty within the Lincoln Regional. It all started with these Cougars who knocked off fifth-seeded N.C. State 72-57 last Saturday in the first round. Then they took down fourth-seeded Nebraska 80-76 last Monday night in the second round to advance to their first Sweet 16 since 2002. BYU’s second round win prevented Nebraska from playing on their home court in this weekend’s regional.

In the other half of the bracket, Big East champion and seventh-seeded DePaul defeated second-seeded Duke at Cameroon Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. The Blue Demons will face No. 3 seed Texas A&M at 7pm (ESPN) in today’s other semifinal.

The Cougars know they are significant underdogs heading into this afternoon’s match-up. Two previous 12 seeds have advance to the round of 16 and lost badly. In 1996, UConn defeated San Francisco (72-44) and last season Notre Dame beat Kansas (93-63).

“It's very intimidating, and [UConn has] been here every year, so they're not nervous or excited probably as much as we are,” BYU coach Jeff Judkins told the Associated Press. “Anybody on any given night – a team can be off, foul trouble, injury, some team can be really on, so you just don't know.”

However, the Cougars are relying on their own family history to motivate them. They are being inspired by the 1983 NCAA men’s basketball champions. Forward Morgan Bailey’s uncle, Thurl, was on that N.C. State Wolfpack team. Led by coach Jim Valvano, the Wolfpack upset the Houston Cougars for the national championship. Houston was the top-seed in that tournament and on a 26-game winning streak before being upset on a last season shot.   

BYU does present a unique challenge for the Huskies. Stefanie Dolson, Breanna Stewart, and Kia Stokes will be challenged in the front court as the Cougars have Jessica Hamson. At 6-foot-7, Hamson averages 18 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and also leads the nation in block shots with 4.2 per game. Hamson was the West Coast Conference Player of the Year as well as the Defensive Player of the Year.

“She's extremely tall and is going to change a lot of shots and probably block a lot of shots,” Dolson told the Associated Press. “We have to make sure we keep attacking her and, for me, setting a lot of ball screens and bring her out of the paint so our guards can drive it in there.”

Another key to BYU is Lexi Eaton, a 5-10 guard, is averaging 17.1 points per game. Eaton had 25 points in the first round win against N.C. State.

As for the Huskies, this is the 22^nd trip to the regional semifinals. They are 19-2 in the Sweet 16 and they are looking to advance to the Elite Eight for the ninth straight year.

UConn is coming off two dominating performances this past week at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.

After coming off Spring Break and a 12 day lay-off, UConn had 18 turnovers in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance in their opening round game last Sunday. The Huskies defeated No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M 87-44.

Stewart had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead five Huskies in a balanced scoring attack. Bria Hartley had 16 points and Moriah Jefferson added 14 points and five steals. Dolson scored 11 points and had six assists, while Kalenna Mosqueda-Lewis had 13 points and six rebounds.

In the second round match-up with No. 9 seed St. Joseph’s this past Tuesday; UConn scored the first 10 points in en route to a 91-52 victory. Offensively, the Huskies were on fire with four players scoring 20 or more points. They shot 55% from the field for the second straight game and limited their turnovers to only eight. Defensively, they held the Hawks to under 35% shooting for the game.

Again five Huskies scored in double figures, led by a triple-double by Mosequeda-Lewis. She had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Dolson (21 points and 11 rebounds) and Stewart (21 points and 10 rebounds) had double-doubles as well. Hartley also contributed with 20 points and Jefferson added 11.  

The winners of today’s games in Lincoln will play on Monday night at 9pm (ESPN) for the regional championship with the winner heading to next weekend’s Final Four in Nashville, Tenn.