Morgan Beard
Staff Writer
University of Connecticut’s record 111-game winning streak ended Friday when Mississippi State University pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in women’s basketball history, shocking the Huskies 66-64 on an overtime buzzer-beater. The Huskies had not lost in 865 days, with that defeat coming to Stanford in overtime on Nov. 17, 2014.
When MSU’s Morgan Williams’s jumper dropped, UConn coach Geno Auriemma broke into that wry smile. He turned to his bench, then went to congratulate the Lady Bulldogs.
According to USA Today, Auriemma said, “Look, nobody’s won more than we’ve won. I understand losing, believe it or not. We haven’t lost in a while, but I understand it. I know how to appreciate when other people win.”
It took an incredible shot by Mississippi State’s diminutive point guard to end the historic streak. Williams hit a 15-footer to cap it, moments after a replay review awarded UConn two free throws for a flagrant 1 foul call that tied the game with 26.6 seconds left.
According to ESPN news, “I live for moments like this,” Williams said. “UConn, they’re an incredible team. For me to make that shot against them, it’s unbelievable. I’m still in shock right now. I wanted to take the shot. I wanted to take the shot and I made it.”
Williams’s shot came one game after she scored a career-high 41 points to help Mississippi State beat Baylor and advance to its first Final Four. The Bulldogs (34-5) and Huskies (36-1) met in the Sweet 16 last season and the Huskies won by 60 points. The most lopsided win in regional semifinals history.
All season the Bulldogs had that humiliating loss on their minds. Now they’ve erased that defeat, beating UConn on the grandest stage in one of the sport’s greatest games.
According to the SEC network, Mississippi State Head Coach Vic Schaefer said, “That is one heck of a basketball team, the greatest of all time. But how proud am I of my kids.”
The Bulldogs ran, piling up at center court while UConn players stood stone-faced. Schaefer grabbed Williams in a bear hug, with former Mississippi State star and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott helping to lead the cheers in a sellout crowd.
Prescott was not the only quarterback in attendance that night. Donovan McNabb was also in Dallas, cheering on niece Kia Nurse, who stars for Connecticut. Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was supporting his sister Anna, who is a freshman at Stanford in the first game that night.
Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts was also sitting at center court. She was cheering on the Bulldogs, who hail from her home state. Roberts brought out a Bulldogs jersey on her morning show.
The Bulldogs got off to a great start, taking it right at the Huskies like not many teams had done during the streak. The Bulldogs led 15-13 before scoring 14 straight points to go up 29-13. It was the biggest deficit UConn had faced during its historic streak and one of the largest during the past 22 years.
The Huskies rallied to within 29-25, as senior Saniya Chong scored seven points during a 12-0 run. Mississippi State answered and was up 36-28 at the half.
UConn came back in the third quarter behind its trio of All-Americans with Williams, Napheesa Collier and Samuelson keying a 12-3 run to start the second half. That run brought Husky alums Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore, who were sitting 20 rows behind the UConn bench, to their feet.
According to ESPN UConn coach Auriemma said, “We had an incredible run, but we came up against a much better team tonight.”
The loss ended a 28 game NCAA Tournament winning streak for UConn. The last loss came to Notre Dame in 2012 in the Final Four. That was the last overtime game in the national semifinals.
Be First to Comment