Philadelphia 3/27/2011 - It would be the third time that Big East foes UConn & Georgetown would meet as the Hoyas were making a rare run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The two previous meetings, the results were low scoring scraps. 52-42 in DC February 26, and 59-43 in the Big East Quarter-Finals...So beating the Hoyas a third time wasn't exactly a guarantee. Especially with a fairly young UConn Team with the exceptions of All American Maya Moore, Lorin Dixon and Junior Tiffany Hayes...
The Hoyas looked confident in the first half, making 7 of 14 three pointers to lead 35-32 at halftime. The Huskies canned 5 triples, but Georgetown just looked as if they wanted it a little more. Monica McNutt and Tia McGee leading the way while All Conference performer Sugar Rodgers was harassed by Kelly Faris a good chunk of the night and struggling. Stephanie Dolson, a freshman center had 7pts and 7 rebounds early before a 14-2 Hoya run put the Hoyas in control into the locker room.
The Huskies looked as if the mojo was back early in the second half as UConn, off a Maya Moore 3 and Hayes fast break hoop, took a one point lead at at 50-49. But the Hoyas weren't fazed as a rare Rodgers hoop this day, a four point play ignited the Hoya spurt that put Georgetown up 51-44 as the Huskies missed 10 straight shots and went scoreless for more than seven minutes.
Geno Auriemma challenged his team at the under 8 media timeout, "these are the games that show what you're made of." He also made a defensive change by taking Dolson out and bringing in 5-5 Lorin Dixon. And the Huskies picked up the defensive intensity. It paid off as a Dixon steal and hoop, later hit a baseline jumper as an early part of a 17-2 run, put UConn up 55-53, their first lead since 24-22. The run ended at 62-55.
Georgetown made on last run, but Maya Moore,who struggled a good chunk of a Sunday Afternoon, made two big pullup jumpers and the Huskies led 67-61 and held on for a 68-63 win. Moore had 23p-14r with 2 blocks and 2 steals...Bria Hartley added 17p-6a and Kelly Faris chipped in with 8p-7r-5a. Dixon played 22 minutes and her contributions of 4p-4a & 4 steals came in the decisive run. UConn doesn't advance without her.
The Huskies would get to at then would be a fourth straight Final Four after their win over Duke two nights later. But the Smallest Husky help rescue UConn past a stingy conference foe first...