NCAA Women’s Championship Preview: Connecticut Continues Historic Run Against Syracuse

With the end of March it means the end of the madness…almost. The NCAA Women’s Tournament comes to an end Tuesday night as powerhouse UCONN takes on underdog Syracuse. Both teams come into this championship game after dominating in every game thus far; the lowest margin of victory for either team is eight points but that was when Syracuse took down top seeded South Carolina.

UCONN being in the championship game doesn’t come as a surprise but many did not see the Orange making a run this deep. Syracuse came into the tournament as a four seed but certainly have played much better than one. Cuse is coming off a dominate final four victory over Washington 80-59 to reach their first national championship game. Alexis Peterson led the Orange with 18 points and six assist and was one of six players to make a three pointer for Cuse. Briana Butler had a huge game as well shooting 4-for-13 behind the arc giving her 128 on the season, which is a new NCAA single-season record.

128 3-point field goals on the 2015-16 season for @bribut_13. A new @ncaawbb record. Congrats Brianna! pic.twitter.com/huLQ8OAyLa

— SU Women's Hoops (@CuseWBB) April 4, 2016

The Huskies, unlike the Orange, are surprising no one with how dominate they have looked this postseason. UCONN is currently on a 74 game winning streak and with a win Tuesday night, they can set multiple records. They can close out their sixth undefeated season, the senior class can record an NCAA record 151 wins, and the Huskies can win their fourth straight title and record 11th overall. In simple the UCONN women’s basketball team is the definition of a sports dynasty. Head coach Geno Auriemma says that this sport is young and needs dominate teams like his. He also knows how valuable his seniors are and knows they will be missed.

The Huskies rolled over Oregon State in the Final Four winning 80-51. All-American Morgan Tuck scored 16 of her game high 21 points in the first half to propel the Huskies to a lead which they would never lose. Breanna Stewart got off to a slow start putting up just two points on two shots in the first half. She found her groove though in the second half scoring fourteen points on 5-for-8 shooting.

Syracuse will have to use their high pressure defense to slow down this Huskies team who has scored at least 80 points in every game in this tournament thus far. Tip-off from Indianapolis is set for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Coverage can be seen on ESPN.