ALBANY, N.Y. — The ticket to the eighth consecutive Final Four was punched Monday night, but the final step was far more treacherous than expected. The two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies faced a formidable opponent in the regional final at the Times Union Center, as Dayton didn’t blink for the first 20 minutes. The Flyers led by one point at halftime, the first time all season UConn has trailed at the break. But the Huskies (36-1) got their groove back during the intermission and seized control with nine unanswered points to start the second half. While Dayton didn’t wilt, the Flyers couldn’t keep up as UConn dominated the second half. The Huskies completed a 91-70 victory and are off to Tampa for the Final Four. UConn, bidding for its 10th NCAA title, will play the national semifinal Sunday. It was a record-setting night for senior Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who set the NCAA career 3-pointer record. Mosqueda-Lewis needed four to tie the all-time record of 392 and she had 3 in the first half and added another four in the second half. The record-breaker came with 12:32 left in the game and gave UConn a 62-49 lead. Mosqueda-Lewis led UConn with 27 points, converting 7 of 10 3-pointers. Breanna Stewart had 23 points and 16 rebounds while Morgan Tuck had 23 points and eight rebounds. Dayton, coming off upset victories over No. 2 Kentucky and No. 3 Louisville, came into the game loose and confident. Coach Jim Jabir said Sunday that his team had nothing to lose, so they would not be intimidated. And the Flyers proved that from the outset. The teams traded baskets during a fast paced first two minutes and Dayton connected on its first two 3-pointers, including a shot by Ally Malott that gave the Flyers an 8-5 lead 2:35 into the game. UConn was unable to distance itself from Dayton, which was 7-of-10 on 3-pointers in the first half. The Flyers led 13-11 and 15-13 before UConn opened a 19-17 lead. But Dayton got a basket by Malott and a 3-pointer from Andrea Hoover to take a 22-19 with 12:39 left in the half. Consecutive 3-pointers by Mosqueda-Lewis gave UConn a 25-22 lead. Again, though the Huskies were unable to do what they’ve done all season — piece together a run and turn the game into a blowout. It was tied at 37 before UConn showed signs of a seizing control. Morgan Tuck scored on a layup with 5:04 left and later hit a jumper to make it 41-37. When Breanna Stewart sank a pair of free-throws with 3:15 left, UConn led 43-38. But those were the last points for UConn in the half. Dayton ended the half with a 6-0 run, scoring on jumpers by Jodie Cornelie and Saicha Grant-Allen and a layup by Kelley Austria. Stewart missed a 3-pointer with one minute left in the half and Mosqueda-Lewis rushed a missed jumper with five seconds left. As the halftime buzzer sounded, Hoover threw an overhand shot from midcourt that bounced off the rim. Dayton bounced off the court with their fans cheering, the Flyers leading 44-43. It was the first time all season that UConn trailed at the half. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
UConn women battle by Dayton for eighth straight Final Four berth
