BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Paige Bueckers and Christyn Williams each scored 15 points to lead a balanced UConn offense in a 75-58 win over Indiana on Saturday to advance the Huskies into their 16th consecutive women’s NCAA Tournament regional final.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds for Connecticut (28-5), which outscored the Hoosiers 46-32 in the paint.
Azzi Fudd added 13 points for the Huskies, who face top-seeded North Carolina State on Monday night in an attempt to earn a 14th straight trip to the Final Four.
Ali Patberg, in her seventh year of college basketball thanks to transfer and COVID-19 rules, had 16 points for the third-seeded Hoosiers, who finish their season at 24-9. Grace Berger had 13 points and Mackenzie Holmes added 12 for Indiana.
UConn led 37-33 at the half, but opened the second half with a 16-0 run to take control of the game.
BRIDGEPORT REGIONAL
N.C. STATE 66, NOTRE DAME 63
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Raina Perez’s steal at midcourt and layup with 14 seconds left lifted top-seeded N.C. State to a win over fifth-seed Notre Dame.
It’s the Wolfpack’s first trip to the Elite Eight since 1998, when they reached the Final Four.
Trailing 59-51 early in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack (32-3) rallied, scoring 15 of the final 19 points capped by Perez’s layup. The Irish had one last chance, but Maddy Westbeld missed a 3-pointer from the wing and Perez hit both free throws for the final margin.
Elissa Cunane scored 16 points and Kai Crutchfield added 14 for the Wolfpack, who hadn’t lost since dropping one to the Irish on Feb. 1.
Olivia Miles scored 21 points and Westbeld added 13 for the Irish (24-9).
WICHITA REGIONAL
LOUISVILLE 76, TENNESSEE 64
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Hailey Van Lith had 23 points and six assists, Emily Engstler had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 1 seed Louisville held off Tennessee to reach the Elite Eight for the fourth consecutive time.
Kianna Smith also had 12 points for the Cardinals (28-4), who blew most of an early 15-point lead before pulling away late in the fourth quarter to set up a date with No. 3 seed Michigan for a spot in the Final Four.
The Cardinals have become one of the nation’s dominant women’s programs under coach Jeff Walz — much like the Lady Vols were for so many years under Pat Summitt — but are still chasing their first national championship.
Rae Burrell led fourth-seeded Tennessee (25-9) with 22 points, but she didn’t get a whole lot of help from her team, which had 18 turnovers. Jordan Walker contributed 10 points but had five of the turnovers.
MICHIGAN 52, SOUTH DAKOTA 49
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Naz Hillmon had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Laila Phelia scored the go-ahead layup in the final minute for No. 3 Michigan, which beat No. 10 seed South Dakota to reach the Elite Eight for the first time.
Phelia scored 14 points and Leigha Brown added 10 for the Wolverines (25-6).
South Dakota (29-6) was trying to become just the fifth double-digit seed to reach the Elite Eight, but fell short. Hannah Sjerven had 17 points and eight rebounds before fouling out, while Chloe Lamb, the Summit League Player of the Year who averaged 16 points per game, was held to just six points.
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