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The result gave UConn its 14th straight Final Four trip in its
16th consecutive regional final. The Huskies denied NC State its
first Final Four appearance since 1998.
The Huskies (29-5) will meet defending NCAA champ Stanford on
Friday night in the semifinals at Minneapolis.
Bueckers made 8 of 9 shots in the second half, including a
3-pointer and a pullup to start the second overtime that put the
Huskies ahead for good. Christyn Williams added 21 points,
including a clinching layup with 5.2 seconds remaining. Azzi
Fudd tallied 19 and Aaliyah Edwards hit for 10.
Five players scored in double figures for the Wolfpack (32-4),
led by Jakia Brown-Turner with 20 points. Elissa Cunane added
18, Jada Boyd scored 14 and Kai Crutchfield and Kayla Jones
contributed 12 points apiece.
NC State tied the game at 61 with one minute left in regulation
when Cunane powered home a layup. The Wolfpack then forced a
second overtime when Brown-Turner drilled a corner 3-pointer
over Bueckers with 0.8 seconds left.
UConn controlled most of the first three quarters, using
significant advantages in points in the paint and points off
turnovers. It was able to create better shots in the lane while
forcing NC State to rely on 3-pointers that rarely found the
mark.
The Huskies led by as many as nine in the second quarter but
lost Dorka Juhasz, one of their top post players, to what was
called a left wrist injury after she was fouled under the
bucket. Cunane's layup in the final minute drew the Wolfpack
within 34-28 at halftime.
NC State kept working the game in the third quarter, finally
finding the range from 3-point land after going 1 of 10 in the
first half. Diamond Johnson drilled a 3 in the last minute,
pulling the Wolfpack within 44-43 going to the fourth period.
--Field Level Media
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