UConn advances on 110th victory

Connecticut’s Napheesa Collier (right) grabs one of her 14 rebounds in Saturday’s Bridgeport Regional semifinal game against UCLA. Collier had 27 points in the Huskies’ victory.
Connecticut’s Napheesa Collier (right) grabs one of her 14 rebounds in Saturday’s Bridgeport Regional semifinal game against UCLA. Collier had 27 points in the Huskies’ victory.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- After watching UConn's NCAA Tournament dominance mostly from the bench for three seasons, Saniya Chong finally made her mark.

Chong scored 16 points and came up with big plays on both ends of the court, and Connecticut beat UCLA 86-71 on Saturday to advance to the Bridgeport Regional final.

"I was looking at the stat sheet, that's more points tonight than in maybe the three previous NCAA Tournaments combined," UConn Coach Geno Auriemma said. "I said before the conference tournament at Mohegan that there are two guys we need them to play at, or above, their level and Saniya's one of them. Today the effort and play of Saniya was, I thought, the difference in the game."

It was the 110th consecutive victory for the No. 1 Huskies, who will face No. 10-seed Oregon on Monday night. The Ducks pulled off another surprise, topping Maryland to advance to their first Elite Eight.

"They don't know enough to be either intimidated or pressured or anything you'd associate with a team doing this for the first time," Auriemma said of the Ducks. "They are having fun and enjoying the moment as they should. It's really neat to see. ... I said when Kelly Graves was hired that it won't be long before they're in the Final Four. I hope it's not this early, but it won't be long."

Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 14 rebounds for UConn (35-0), which shot 55.6 percent (30 for 54) from the field.

The No. 4-seed Bruins jumped out a 9-2 lead over UConn before the Huskies scored 17 of the next 19 points. The seven-point deficit matched the Huskies' largest this season.

The Huskies led by nine after one quarter and 17 at the half.

The victory tied Auriemma with Pat Summitt for most NCAA Tournament victories. The two Hall of Fame coaches have 112 tournament victories.

Jordin Canada had 20 points and 11 assists for UCLA (25-9).

Monique Billings finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds for UCLA.

OREGON 77, MARYLAND 63

Sabrina Ionescu led five Oregon players in double figures with 21 points and the No. 10-seed Ducks continued their improbable run through the NCAA Tournament with an upset victory over No. 3-seed Maryland.

Fellow freshman Ruthy Hebard added 16 points for the Ducks (23-13), who beat No. 2-seed Duke in the second round and advanced to the first regional final in program history.

Brionna Jones and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough each had 16 points for Maryland, which finished the season at 32-3.

Oregon Coach Kelly Graves, who was hired by the Ducks in 2014 after 14 seasons at Gonzaga, said before the game that his young team that starts three freshmen may not know it is not supposed to be winning. The Ducks became the second No. 10 seed to advance to a regional final, joining Lamar in 1991.

Oregon led by nine points at halftime and made seven consecutive shots late in the third quarter to extend that to 59-45.

A steal and basket by Walker-Kimbrough cut the lead to 69-63 with just over minutes left, capping an 8-0 Maryland run. But Ionescu answered with a basket and the Terps were called for an offense foul on the other end, ending the threat.

Sports on 03/26/2017

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