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Final Four Recap: UConn handles Maryland, 81-58

The Huskies advance to the national championship, where Muffet McGraw's Notre Dame team awaits.

By Aman Kidwai
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

This game followed a familiar blueprint. To quote the great Bon Jovi, "It's all the same, only the names have chaaaanged."

Maryland shot out of the gate trying to match the Huskies pace, playing their hearts out and making it appear as though they were competing with the best team in the country. Unfortunately, as the rest of the night's action would prove, it was a mirage.

Tied at 10 early on, the Huskies scored six straight points as they started to pull away. While the Terrapins fought admirably, they wouldn't get closer than four points away across the rest of the half. UConn had three double-digit scorers in the first half, building an 11-point lead at the break.

The second half started with a 9-0 UConn run to push the lead to 20 and put the game well out of reach for the plucky underdogs from College Park. And by plucky underdogs I of course mean the No. 4 team in the country. Whateva.

Senior Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis didn't have her best shooting night, going 1-8 from the field, but dished out 7 assists to pass 100 on the season. Mosqueda-Lewis is the fifth member of this team to cross that mark, joining the rest of UConn's starters in accomplishing this feat.

The Huskies were led by Breanna Stewart's 25 points and Morgan Tuck's 24. Both forwards were able to exploit match-ups down low, grabbing 8 and 9 rebounds respectively to go with their dominant scoring efforts. Tuck may have drawn some motivation from being snubbed by the All-American voters. Stewie added four blocks, getting off to a really good start in her quest for a third-straight Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.

Our other double-digit scorer was Moriah Jefferson, who finished with 14 points and five assists after a relatively quiet second half. Jefferson lit up the first half with her explosive play, but played more of a facilitator role later in the game.

Awaiting UConn in Tuesday's championship game is Notre Dame, who held on for a 66-65 win against South Carolina in the early session. It will be UConn's tenth appearance in the national final, where they are a perfect 9-0 thus far.

GO HUSKIES!!

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