Huskies Turn Back Penn State to Advance in NCAA Tournament

The Huskies will face No. 2 seed Kentucky in an 'Elite Eight' match up on Tuesday.

Sophomore Bria Hartley '14 (CLAS) runs down a ball after a steal during the Huskies' NCAA Tournament win over Penn State in the Sweet Sixteen. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)

Sophomore Bria Hartley '14 (CLAS) runs down a ball after a steal during the Huskies' NCAA Tournament win over Penn State in the Sweet Sixteen. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)

Sophomore Bria Hartley '14 (CLAS) runs down a ball after a steal during the Huskies' NCAA Tournament win over Penn State in the Sweet Sixteen. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)
Sophomore Bria Hartley '14 (CLAS) runs down a ball after a steal during the Huskies' NCAA Tournament win over Penn State in the Sweet Sixteen. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)

From the early part of this basketball season, Geno Auriemma has not been certain just what kind of team the Huskies would become. The team was young – relying primarily on freshmen and sophomores who were still learning the discipline and team play expected from those wearing a UConn jersey.

In the 36th game of the season, an emphatic 77-59 win over Penn State in the NCAA Tournament in Kingston, R.I., that places the No. 1 seed Huskies one game from its fifth straight Final Four, Auriemma said his team is where he wants it to be. On Tuesday at 7 p.m. the Huskies will face No. 2 seed Kentucky, which defeated Gonzaga 79-62.

“We wanted to make sure this was a team thing, rather than looking around for somebody to have a big night,” he said, again recalling the team’s struggle to find itself this season. “[We had to] play great defense and execute offensively. That’s exactly what it was. The stat sheet tells some of it, but this was one of the more complete games we’ve played in a while. It couldn’t come at a better time.”

Caroline Doty '13 (CLAS) and Bria Hartley '14 (CLAS) celebrate the Huskies '77-59 NCAA Tournament win over Penn State Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)
Caroline Doty '13 (CLAS) and Bria Hartley '14 (CLAS) celebrate the Huskies '77-59 NCAA Tournament win over Penn State Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)

What the box score showed was the Huskies shooting 50 percent from the field, with five players scoring in double figures, led by sophomore Bria Hartley ’14 (CLAS) with 20 points, and junior Kelly Faris ’13 (ED) scoring 15. It also showed Connecticut again flexing its defensive muscle, holding the Lady Lions to 32.3 percent shooting, including holding junior center Nikki Greene scoreless after getting her in early foul trouble in the first half.

The Huskies opened the game with a 12-2 run and held Penn State scoreless for two long periods during the game, never getting closer than five points in the first half, and then extended their lead to as many as 28 points with just over six minutes remaining in the game.

The UConn offensive balance included Tiffany Hayes ’12 (CLAS) with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, and freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“They’ve got a lot of weapons and they play very well together,” said Penn State head coach Coquese Washington. “They move well without the ball, and they’re just a pretty tough team. Connecticut played like a team that had people that played in a Sweet 16 and a Final Four. I think we played too fast. We shot a lot of quick shots and didn’t show enough patience on the offensive end.”

For the second consecutive game, Faris’s value to the Huskies was evident not just in a steady contribution in all parts of the game showing up in the box score, but visibly in her scoring, hitting two consecutive baskets to give UConn a 26-point lead in the second half.

But it was a defensive sequence by Faris that got the crowd of partisan Huskies fans on their feet at the Ryan Center on the University of Rhode Island campus. Faris blocked a shot by Penn State’s leading scorer, Maggie Lucas, which was tipped to Caroline Doty ’13 (CLAS), who in turn found Faris streaking toward the UConn basket, where she was fouled by a Lady Lion defender.

“I stood at the other end of the court and I was in awe,” said center Stefanie Dolson ’15 (CLAS), who had 10 points and 5 rebounds, about Faris’s block. “You know she’s going give you her best every night and work as hard as she can. Tonight was no exception. She came out and just killed it. She made play after play, and never stopped working offensively and defensively.”

In addition to scoring 15 points, Faris had 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

“I probably get more asked questions about Kelly having to do with what she can’t do,” Auriemma said when asked about Faris’s effort after the game. “She’s not really a guard. She’s not really a post player. Kelly’s day usually revolves around what’s the focus of the other team. Kelly’s the odd man out. What they don’t know is that Kelly makes so many plays that maybe don’t reflect on her ability to score, but they help our team score. The best thing I can say about Kelly – and I’ve said his to other coaches and others in Connecticut – is that last year when we lost to Notre Dame [in the Final Four], it was the first time she lost in the postseason since eighth grade. The kid has lost one game in seven years in the postseason. I love having guys like that on our team. She finds things to do to help our team.”

Senior Tiffany Hayes '12 (CLAS) leads the fast break during the Huskies' 77-59 NCAA Tournament win at the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)
Senior Tiffany Hayes '12 (CLAS) leads the fast break during the Huskies' 77-59 NCAA Tournament win at the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. (Bob Stowell/UConn Photo)

Auriemma said the Huskies now have a better understanding of where each member of the team fits into the offensive flow, after some adjustments were made just before the Big East Tournament in early March.

“We’re finding a certain comfort level with each other that is really helping us right now,” he said. “It made all the difference in the world. People started to see where their shots were going to come from on a regular basis. People are taking shots within the offense, and nobody’s forcing anything.”

Added Hartley: “We were able to move the ball around really well tonight. You didn’t know where our next shot was coming from –someone coming off a screen; Stef getting a layup inside; someone getting a three outside. It was all the different variations. That’s hard to defend when you have five players on the court who can score. It’s tough for teams to guard us.”