UConn routed South Carolina in last year’s national championship game, 82-59, but Huskies coach Geno Auriemma is quick to point out one of the key differences in the Gamecocks team they face in Friday night’s Final Four rematch:
“They’ve added the size that’s hard to match up with.”
In the offseason, South Carolina welcomed a tall transfer from Mississippi State: 6’ 6” Madina Okot of Kenya. Averaging 13.2 points per game this season, Okot delivers uncommon size and strength. There’s also 6’ 7” Alicia Tournebize of France off the bench.
It will be partially up to the consensus national player of the year to stop Okot, but Sarah Strong gives away 4 inches in the matchup. Size isn’t everything considering Strong’s all-around dominance at 6-foot-2, but Auriemma may look to help her out with 6’ 4” Serah Williams or, off the bench, 6’ 5” Jana El Alfy.
South Carolina’s scoring leader presents another tough matchup: 6’ 3” forward Joyce Edwards averages almost 20 points per game. On the other end of the size spectrum is 5’ 9” guard Ta’Niya Latson, averaging 14.4 points.
Of course, UConn delivers world-class skills that should more than counter any size disadvantage.
Strong has dominated opponents in virtually all categories this season, recently adding the AP National Player of the Year award to her ever-expanding trophy haul. She’s shooting almost 60% from the field and better than 40% from three-point range, helping UConn win its games by an average 37.8 points.
The Huskies have been so dominant, Strong has only had to play an average of 27 minutes per game (of a potential 40). Still, she averages 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Strong’s fellow All American, guard Azzi Fudd, faces her final weekend in the UConn program.
“I feel like I’ve kind of been in denial thinking about how this is my last weekend.” says Fudd. “Like, I know, but I really haven’t accepted that yet.”
Despite the stakes, Auriemma says Fudd should play without the weight of additional pressure in the Final Four, knowing that her UConn legacy is sealed, win or lose:
“Once we beat Notre Dame to get here, to me, Azzi’s job was done.”
In last weekend’s regional final, Notre Dame was able to prevent Fudd from getting a good look at her trademark three point shots. UConn will look to change that early against South Carolina.
Should Fudd struggle again from long distance, the Huskies can likely count on freshman Blanca Quinonez to step up. She ignited the Huskies during a tight first half with the Fighting Irish, winding up with 20 points.
Auriemma says nothing seems to faze the rookie from Ecuador (via Italy), saying, “Her belief in her herself, I think, is one of things that separates her. I think a lot of kids today, they don’t necessary have that belief, they don’t have that level of confidence… Hers is real, and, I think it’s infectious.”
--UConn is appearing in its 25th Final Four (and its 17th in the last 18 years), with an all-time record of 13-11 coming in.
--UConn is 12-1 in National Championship games.
