NFL
By: Ty Reeves
After beating Seton Hall to advance to the Women’s Big East Tournament Championship, the Villanova Wildcats band started to chant, “We Want UConn”, and that’s exactly what they got.
The UConn Huskies put on a show beating Villanova 70-40 at Mohegan Sun Arena Monday night. The Huskies were led by senior Evina Westbrook who finished the game with 13 points, to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Senior Christyn Williams was also named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament as UConn has officially punched their ticket for the NCAA tournament.
This win over Villanova served as a revenge game for UConn as they lost to the Wildcats which ended their 169-game conference winning streak. However, UConn played that game without senior forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa, sophomore guard Caroline Ducharme and Paige Bueckers.
“I think all of us knew in the locker room before the game that it would be a totally different game than the first time,” said Westbrook after the game.
And so it was. The Huskies held the Wildcats to single-digit scoring in two out of the four total quarters in the game. UConn was also able to contain the Big East Player of the Year Maddy Siegrist to 16 points on 7 of 17 shooting throughout the game.
Since coming to UConn, Williams has won a conference tournament championship every year. But after the game, she said this 2022 championship was her favorite.
“This team has gone through so much over the course of this season, on and off the court. We had to work so hard to get where we are right now. So this one just feels really good.”
This season was far from normal for UConn. In December, the team lost 2021 National Player of the Year Paige Bueckers to a knee injury that would sideline her for two months. The team also went through stretches without guards Azzi Fudd, Nika Muhl, Ducahrme, and Nelson-Odada. The team also had two players transfer mid-season and lost junior guard Aubrey Griffin to season-ending back surgery in January.
This is something that Head Coach Geno Auriemma realizes and commends his team on. He said after the game, “We never lost sight of who we are and what we were trying to do. Some days it was really bleak. Some days you go to practice and we had five able bodies. … We knew when these players come back we’ll be whole again.”
The Huskies have found their stride at the right time as they outscored their opponents 225 to 129 in route to their second consecutive Big East Championship since returning to the conference last season.
What’s Next For Villanova
For Villanova, who finished with a 23-8 record, it’s hoping and praying that their resume is enough for them to make it to the big dance. The Wildcats finished second in the Big East, ahead of Marquette and DePaul who have established themselves as NCAA tournament regulars over the past years. They also have one of the best players in college basketball in Siegrist who averages just under 26 points a game.
“People don’t realize how hard it is to play against Villanova,” said Auriemma. “I’ll be really upset if Villanova is not in the tournament.”
What’s Next For UConn
For the Huskies, making the tournament was never a question in mind. With a healthy team and momentum in their favor, UConn looks a dangerous threat to win their 12th National Championship this season.
The Huskies go into the tournament with a 25-5 record and both a regular season and conference championship attached to their name. With the Huskies never playing the regular season fully healthy, the tournament committee will really have some thinking to do when it comes to seeding this team. Right now the Huskies are predicted to be the two seed in the Bridgeport region according to ESPN Bracketology.
"You have three weeks to make a legacy for yourself"@UConnWBB Head Coach Geno Auriemma after winning another @BIGEASTWBB tournament pic.twitter.com/W9v8PB0EVe
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 8, 2022
