Spring Break
8:54 p.m.
Game. J.J. Hones knocks down yet another wide open look for Stanford, and it’s a 10-point game with 3:14 to go. The Huskies score five straight in the next 30 seconds, but then Kayla Pedersen knocks down - guess - ANOTHER wide-open 3-pointer. It’s 74-66 with 2:09 to play. The Huskies have played their worst defensive game in the national semifinals. Barring a miracle, this one could be over.
8:50 p.m.
And now UConn is up against it.
Stanford leads them, 68-61 with 3:46 to play. The Huskies got within five before Stanford got the benefit of a no-call on a potential charge and converted a second-look layup.
The Huskies have the ball and they absolutely need to score on their next couple of possessions, or indeed this season will come to an end.
8:35 p.m.
I’m not ready to call this game over, but it is not looking good for UConn. There’s 7:59 to play and Stanford, getting nearly every call, every bounce of the ball, and hitting most of the big shots, leads 59-51.
Maya Moore finally drained an open shot to cut it to eight, but UConn just cannot score consistently without the outside shot. Charde Houston just committed a costly turnover to give the ball back to the Cardinal. It feels as if every time UConn gets within sight of tying the game, Stanford hits a big shot. Most recently, it was Jayne Appel’s ridiculous reverse layup.
The Cardinal are playing like a team that desperately wants to win. UConn needs to get to that level. It’s doable, but UConn will have a tough time making up eight points on a very, very good Cardinal team in eight minutes.
8:25 p.m.
Just an unbelievably awful stretch for UConn, on all accounts. After cutting Stanford’s lead to 47-46 with 14:07 to go, Stanford goes on an 8-0 run to go up nine with 11:45 left.
The Huskies drifted into a 2-3 zone after struggling with the man-to-man defense all year. Which is fine…unless the opposing team has a shooter the caliber of Candice Wiggins. She just hit two backbreaking 3-pointers, the Huskies are still settling (and missing badly) on just about every jump shot they take, and the No. 1 team in the nation is in peril of going home tonight.
UConn still has no offense to speak of, and Stanford looks like an absolute juggernaut right now.
Danger time for the Huskies. We’ll see how they respond.
8:18 p.m.
The Huskies have cut into Stanford’s lead just a smidge, and it’s 47-42 Cardinal with 15:06 to play.
Maya Moore is too unselfish at times. She had an open layup and chose to give the ball to Tina Charles as defenders closed in. Charles lost it, and so did the Huskies.
Time is very quickly winding here, as each possession grows in importance. UConn will have to turn the intensity on defense up, get some stops and make some open shots finally.
8:10 p.m.
The wireless internet connection here is God awful. Thanks, NCAA.
Stanford leads, 40-33 at half.
I had a big spiel on how Stanford is outplaying UConn in every aspect. Kayla Pederson is dominant, Candice Wiggins can go off at any moment, and UConn is in grave danger unless Montgomery, Swanier and Moore start hitting the open shots they’re getting. UConn is 2-for-9 from 3 in the first half, simliar to their result against Rutgers. And, no surprise, without the 3-pointers, the Huskies are struggling to create any offense.
It’s hit your shots and advance for UConn. Otherwise, the Huskies will be going home much sooner than most expected.
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