Can Tennessee say this ??????????
UConn into regional semis for 16th straight season
STORRS, Conn. (AP)—Connecticut steamrolled Florida to reach a familiar place— the NCAA regional semifinals.
The same thing couldn’t be said for top-seeded Duke after the Blue Devils were bounced by Michigan State, marking only the second time since 1999 that all four No. 1 seeds didn’t advance out of the second round.
The Blue Devils didn’t make a field goal in the final 7:29 of a 63-49 loss to the Spartans, a night after No. 3 seeds North Carolina and Florida State, as well as No. 2 Auburn went down.
“The tournament’s getting great,” Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said. “As much as everyone focuses on Connecticut. There are going to be some great stories coming out of the tournament. Ball State, Michigan State tonight. The tournament has just become an unbelievable event for these kids.”
Renee Montgomery scored 25 points in her final home game and undefeated UConn beat eighth-seeded Florida 87-59 in the second round Tuesday night.
The Huskies (35-0) advanced to the regional semis for the 16th straight season and will play fourth-seeded California on Sunday.
Even though they get to this point practically every season, the Huskies don’t take their success for granted.
“We know we’re not entitled to make it to the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight,” Montgomery said. “I’m just ready to go to Trenton.”
This is the fourth time that UConn has been undefeated while playing in the NCAA tournament. Connecticut went on to win the national championship in 1995 and 2002. In 1996-97, the Huskies lost to Tennessee in the regional finals.
Tina Charles followed up her 32-point effort in the first round with 22 against Florida. She also had 10 rebounds for her 11th double-double this season.
Maya Moore added 22 points and 14 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the season.
Marshae Dotson scored 22 to lead Florida (24-8).
With her No. 20 hanging in Gampel Pavilion, Montgomery started her 136th straight game to break the school record she shared with Jen Rizzotti.
The senior guard is hoping to cap her storied career with UConn’s sixth national championship. Besides Kerry Bascom, Montgomery is the only honoree of the 11 who hasn’t won an NCAA title.
She left the game to a long standing ovation from the crowd with 6:23 left and UConn up by 36.
“I was trying to take it all in,” Montgomery said. “I was trying to take it all in. It was my last game here. It was a blessing to play an extra game here. It’s not going to be like this ever again.”
