NFL
By: Ty Reeves
This. Is. March.
This game possibly could’ve been the game of the tournament as Paige Bueckers led the UConn over the Baylor Bears 69-67, punching their ticket to their 13th straight Final Four. The game had me holding my breath as it literally came down to the last play of the game. UConn coach Geno Auriemma said post-game that, “There was a point in time late in the third quarter when the look in their eyes changed and I said look, we have two choices now, we can figure out how to get stops and be tough enough to stay without stuff on offense, or we go home. There’s no other choice, that’s great coaching, we win or go home.” Now, of course, I’m happy that the Huskies walked away with the W, but that hasn’t stopped Lebron James and tons of basketball fans from questioning the officiating on the last call of the game. Let’s get into my notes and break down the game.
Paige Buckets lights it up on the big Stage
Big Time Bueckers ‼️
28 points to lead @UConnWBB back to the #WFinalFour! pic.twitter.com/pMmvOCdFx6
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 30, 2021
Without hesitation, Paige has proven to be the Huskies best player over the course of the season, and once again she showed why she deserves the respect that she already gets from the media and some of the most elite talent. The Super Frosh played every minute of the competition and was the main focal point of the UConn offense finishing with a game-high 28 points. When asked if Coach Auriemma was satisfied with the number of shots she took she said, “Coach is never satisfied with what I do, coach was yelling at me after the game for not waiting for a screen.” Paige was the star of the show, but Christyn Williams and Evina Westbrook both contributed heavily on the offensive end finishing with 21 and 11 respectively.
Where did it go wrong for Baylor?
UConn got out the gate quick jumping to a 16-4 lead with 5:19 remaining in the first quarter. However, the Bears would claw their way back into the game with their physical play and take a 39-37 lead into the half. To start off the second half, it was Baylor who came out hot. On the back of DiJonai Carrington (finished with 22 points) were able to grow a 10 point lead on the Huskies with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter. Now the momentum seemed to have moved in Baylor’s favor, but maybe having too much confidence was their downfall as UConn would go on a 17-0 run into the fourth quarter.
WHAT A FINISH
Baylor wasn’t able to get the lid off the basket until a NaLyssa Smith’s bucket brought the Bears within seven points (64-57) with 6:48 remaining in the game. With the Huskies offense stagnating down the stretch, Baylor was able to get within one point (68-67) of tying the game with 20 seconds remaining in the game. With 18 seconds remaining Baylor fouled UConn’s Williams, sending her to the line to put the game out of reach. Williams would then miss both free throws giving Baylor one last chance to win it all.
The ball would find its way to no other than Carrington, who was the main scorer all night for the Bears. After using a pick, the Stanford transfer would drive the ball into the low post and was met by the defense of Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aaliyah Edwards. Carrington would miss the jumper on a questionable no foul call, and Williams would grab the rebound for UConn and get fouled with under a second to go.
WHAT A GAME!
UCONN TAKES DOWN BAYLOR IN A THRILLER! #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/c9ze02twoC
— ESPN (@espn) March 30, 2021
She missed the first but would hit the second to score UConn’s last seven points of the game. And with Bueckers stealing the ball on the ensuing inbounds play, UConn would beat the Baylor Bears for the first time in two years.
Was it a foul?
Foul…? pic.twitter.com/wvSUHUedq4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 30, 2021
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions about the game, and there were a lot of mixed emotions after the game about whether or not Carrington was fouled on the last play of the game. People like Lebron James and even Auriemma’s daughter thought that the officials missed a call on the last play of the game. In response, Auriemma said, “I probably doubt that in his career he’s ever won a game and decided to give it back because he looked at it and went, that was a foul. It is what it is.”
The whole entire game from start to finish was physical and that was what both teams expected coming into the game. There were calls missed on both sides, so to say that one call decided the game is very harsh for both sides.
In the end, nothing is going to change. UConn walked away victorious and will face off against Arizona, making their first final four appearances in program history. Let the Madness continue.
👋 Christyn Williams pic.twitter.com/lKChsxPKXq
— Daniel Connolly (@DanielVConnolly) March 30, 2021
