UConn Women’s Basketball Advances To NCAA Final Four In March Madness

The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies have won the NCAA Women’s Basketball Fort Worth Regional One, after defeating No. 6 Notre Dame, 70-52. This is the 25th Final Four for the UConn Huskies.

UConn is also the only undefeated team left in the bracket. Being an undefeated team has paid off in the past. Out of the previous 39 years in the NCAA women’s tournament, undefeated teams have won 10 times, and UConn accounts for six of those wins.

The game seemed within reach in the first half for the Fighting Irish, as they went into the locker room down only seven points. The Notre Dame defense was relentless as it shut down the leading scorers for UConn. They held graduate student Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong under double digits with four and six points for the first half.

However, in the second half, Strong had 15 points, 10 in the fourth quarter. This was her 31st 20+ game in her first two seasons as a Husky. She ties and joins UConn great Breanna Stewart with that number and surpasses Maya Moore, who had 30.

A standout performance was also notched for UConn by Big East Sixth Player of the Year, Blanca Quiñonez who had 20 points, eight rebounds, shooting 50% from beyond the arc, with four three-pointers.

Notre Dame’s Run Ends in Elite Eight Loss to UConn

In the loss for Notre Dame, junior sensation Hannah Hidalgo had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Hidalgo in the post game press conference was already locked in on what her team would need for next season to get back to the Elite Eight and even further.

She said, “It [loss to UConn] gives motivation, it will be a different roster than this year, completely different again, but we finally got over that hump [Sweet 16]. We did not do that for two years, the first two years that I have been here, so to be able to do that with this team, when nobody thought we were going to get past the second round."

She continued, “We know that the people coming in are going to have to raise their level, because we know what it feels like to get to the Elite Eight.”

Additionally, Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey discussed that they wanted to win the game, but also that she is "beyond proud of my team" and that she is “grateful and blessed that I get to do what I love and it is coaching this group. You know, we wanted to win this game, but they submitted their legacy, getting me, getting us back to the Elite Eight is something special.”

UConn Reflects on Elite Eight Win, Shifts Attention to Final Four

On the court after the game, after being presented the trophy, Geno Auriemma addressed the crowd and joked that “we always feel like we are the home team when we play.”

He also congratulated Notre Dame on their season, stating, “I told Niele before the game, from when we played them in January at our place to today, I don’t know that any team has improved more than they did.”

In the post game press conference, Auriemma explained that “the hardest game to play is to get to the Final Four." He continued, “We played a really good team and I am really proud of our players and how we managed to flip the switch and come out in the second half. I am really, really proud of my players.” Then a smirk, “Most of them.”

Keeping with the tone of the team and the players on the roster, Fudd, Strong, and Quiñonez all enjoyed hearing that Auriemma was proud of the their performances, and his post win dance moves that included a cowboy hat during the trophy celebration.

Fudd explained that Auriemma does not say he is proud a lot, “He doesn’t say it a lot. He doesn’t give out compliments too often, so to hear him say that does mean a lot. We love this team so much.” Strong added, “Deep down he really loves us, cares for us, and wants what’s best for us.”

In making light of his cowboy hat and dance, Quiñonez said, “It was fun to see him smile, he does not normally do it, especially with me, so it was fun, seeing him happy, makes us happy. Strong continued, “Seeing him excited and kinda goofy is really good for us. He is not normally like that, he is normally all serious and urgg [grimaces and growls], so seeing him let loose and be his true self was great.”

Fudd jokingly added, “I thought the cowboy hat looked good on him, pretty natural and when he breaks out a dance move that is how you know he is proud.”

Fort Worth Regional One All-Tournament Team

Aubrey Galvan, Vanderbilt

Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame

Blanca Quiñonez, UConn

Azzi Fudd, UConn

Most Outstanding Player, Sarah Strong, UConn

UConn heads to Phoenix for the Final Four where they play their first game in their pursuit to defend their national title on April 3rd on ESPN.

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