Final: No. 1 UConn Women’s Basketball Slices No. 8 Syracuse, 94-64

Kia Nurse could not be stopped as the Huskies win their 109th consecutive game.

By Daniel Connolly@DanielVConnolly Mar 20, 2017, 10:18pm EDT

There’s just something about Monday night tournament games with this UConn women’s basketball team. Exactly two weeks to the day from Katie Lou Samuelson’s record-setting three-point game, junior Kia Nurse put together a sparkling performance of her own.

The junior was simply unstoppable, hitting a NCAA Tournament-record nine three-pointers in UConn’s 94-64 win over Syracuse. The Orange had no answer for Nurse, who hit from all over the court. She finished with 29 points and also racked up six assists.

“Once you see one or two go in the net, you shoot it with confidence,” Nurse said after the game. “I felt like this week if I could get in the gym and see a couple go through the net, I’d knock them in.”

Nurse improves to 14-of-19 from behind the arc over the first two games of the NCAA Tournament, so it would be safe to say her previously injured ankle is feeling better.

Syracuse held close with the Huskies out of the gate—it was still a two-point game with just under six minutes left in the half. However, UConn closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, part of a 25-4 sprint which allowed the Huskies to pull away quickly.

Syracuse’s offense revolves around the three-point shot. In its first round game against Iowa State, the Orange hit 15 threes. In the first half of this one, they were just 3-of-9 from beyond the arc and finished with eight total, most of which came in garbage time.

“It was a double-whammy for Syracuse,” Geno Auriemma said. “We took away their biggest weapon, the three, and we really hurt them with the three.”

While Gabby Williams typically thrives in the post for the Huskies, Auriemma found a different role for the versatile forward. Offensively, she handled the ball more to help counteract Syracuse’s press defense. On the other end, she guarded the perimeter to keep the ‘best backcourt in the country’ in check.

“When your center’s the fastest guy on your team and a tremendous ballhandler, that’s really tough on the other team,” Auriemma shared.

Williams finished the night with 23 points, adding six rebounds and dishing five assists.

The Huskies passed the ball well all night, notching an assist on 30 of 33 made baskets. Four players finished with five or more assists while Samuelson and Collier had four and three, respectively.

“Our ball movement was incredible,” said Auriemma. “I shake my head. They were really good.”

With the win, UConn advances to their 24th consecutive Sweet Sixteen. Next, they head to Bridgeport where they will face the No. 4 seed in the region, UCLA Bruins. A win would tie Geno Auriemma with Pat Summit for the most career NCAA Tournament wins with 112. They will play on Saturday with the time to be announced.

UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) fakes out Syracuse’s Brittney Sykes (20)
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UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) fakes out Syracuse’s Brittney Sykes (20) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) defends Syracuse’s Alexis Peterson (1) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) goes for the steal. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33)
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UConn’s Napheesa Collier (24) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) reacts after being fouled on a three-pointer.
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UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) celebrates after making a layup and being fouled.
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UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) at the free throw line. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) reacts after being fouled. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Saniya Chong (12) tries to work through a Syracuse screen. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson shoots a three. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) attempts a three-pointer.
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UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) celebrates after making her seventh three-pointer of the first half. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) celebrates after making her seventh three-pointer of the first half. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) celebrates after making her eighth three-pointer of the first half. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Napheesa Collier (24) (floor cam view)
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UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) drives to the basket. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Crystal Dangerfield (5) gets ready to enter the game in the 3rd quarter.
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UConn’s Napheesa Collier (24) gets ready to block a Syracuse shot. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Napheesa Collier (24) blocks the shot of a Syracuse player. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma calls a play. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Tierney Lawlor (20) celebrates a three-pointer with Saniya Chong (12) and Kyla Irwin (25).
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Napheesa Collier (24) (floor cam view) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) gets fouled. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Napheesa Collier (24) ties up a Syracuse player. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Crystal Dangerfield (5)
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UConn’s Saniya Chong (12) and Natalie Butler (51) on the defensive end.
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UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) drives to the basket.
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UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) reacts after being fouled.
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Napheesa Collier (24) looks to get past a Syracuse defender.
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UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) and Gabby Williams (15) share a laugh on the bench.
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Crystal Dangerfield (5) drives to the basket. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn assistant coaches Shea Ralph and Marisa Moseley are all smiles. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman consoles Brittney Sykes (20), who was playing in her final game with the Orange.
Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson (33) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
Otto the Orange is feeling deflated.
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Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman consoles Alexis Peterson (1), who was playing in her final game with the Orange.
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UConn’s Kyla Irwin (25)
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UConn’s Kyla Irwin (25) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Tierney Lawlor (20) Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman embrace after the Huskies kicked the Orange’s butt.
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UConn head coach Geno Auriemma is interviewed by ESPN’s Diana Russini after the game. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma during the postgame press conference. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) during the postgame press conference. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) is all smiles during the postgame press conference. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Kia Nurse (11) is all smiles during the postgame press conference. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog
UConn’s Gabby Williams (15) during the postgame press conference. Ian Bethune for The UConn Blog