The UConn Women’s Basketball team is no stranger to making it to the Final Four, but this year’s journey may be one of their most impressive yet. They advanced to the Final Four with a dominant performance against Baylor on Monday, March 29, 2021.
The game started off close with Baylor leading by one point at the end of the first quarter. However, UConn quickly took control in the second quarter and never looked back. They outscored Baylor 29-18 in the second quarter and continued their dominant play in the second half.
The UConn defense was particularly impressive in the game, holding Baylor to only 21 points in the second half. They also forced 16 turnovers and limited Baylor’s leading scorer, DiJonai Carrington, to only 13 points.
Offensively, UConn had a balanced attack with six players scoring in double figures. Paige Bueckers, the team’s star freshman guard, led the way with 28 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Other key contributors included Christyn Williams with 21 points and 5 rebounds, Olivia Nelson-Ododa with 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Aaliyah Edwards with 12 points and 6 rebounds.
The final score of the game was 69-67, but UConn’s dominance was evident throughout the entire game. They shot 52% from the field and 44% from three-point range. They also outrebounded Baylor 38-25, including 15 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.
This victory marked UConn’s 13th consecutive Final Four appearance, which is a remarkable feat in college basketball. It also showed that this year’s team is not just a one-player show in Bueckers, but a well-rounded team that can dominate on both ends of the court.
UConn will face off against Arizona in the Final Four on April 2, 2021. Arizona has also had an impressive run in the tournament, knocking off some of the top teams in the country. However, UConn’s dominant performance against Baylor has shown that they are a force to be reckoned with and are determined to bring home another national championship.