FORT WORTH, Texas — UConn came into Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup with two All-Americans in Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong.
In the 70-52 win over Notre Dame, though, it was tasked with finding a way as both got off to concerning slow starts for a second-straight NCAA Tournament game. Fudd finished with 13 points, and Strong had 21, but they combined for just 10 first-half points, their lowest combined total of the season.
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Despite the slow starts, UConn advanced to its 17th Final Four in 18 years and 25th Final Four in program history. The No. 1 seed Huskies will play the winner of Monday’s Elite game between top-seeded South Carolina and third-seeded TCU later on Friday in Phoenix.
Against No. 6 seed Notre Dame, UConn had to rely on players like Blanca Quiñonez, who scored 20 points, including 12 in the first quarter. It was the fifth-straight double-figure game for the freshman and second-straight game when she had to step up in the first quarter. She had seven points in the opening quarter in the Sweet 16 against North Carolina, as well.
UConn needs to learn to play when Strong and Fudd are off, but two slow starts in a row are worrisome for an offense that has been scoring at ease this season, averaging 88 points per game. But the Huskies’ defense never wavered. The unit’s task was slowing down one of the hottest players in the tournament, Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo.
Hidalgo, who was averaging 26 points, 11 rebounds, 8.6 steals and five assists in the tournament, scored 22 points and added 11 rebounds on Sunday, but she was held scoreless in the first quarter. She helped keep Notre Dame close until about midway through the third quarter when the Huskies began pulling away.
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UConn took a 14-point lead at the end of the third quarter and never gave up control. Meanwhile, Notre Dame didn’t have enough offensive firepower to make the comeback, as Hidalgo was the only Notre Dame player to score in double figures.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Connecticut Huskies, Women’s College Basketball
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