NEW ORLEANS – Tennessee’s run through the NCAA tournament came to an end Tuesday with a 70-61 loss to Connecticut in the championship game. With the win, the Huskies became the first school in tournament history to pick up both the men and women’s NCAA championships in the same season. The title also marked three tournament titles in a row for UConn, tying the record held by Tennessee between 1996 and 1998. Connecticut leapt out to an early lead, establishing a 30-13 lead by the 6:26 mark of the first half. But Tennessee, as has been their trend of late, fought back – cutting the lead to only six at the half with an 11-0 run. The rest of the game played out much the same as that last stretch of the opening stanza. The Huskies established a post presence early in the second half, sending the ball inside against a hobbled Shyra Ely, who injured her foot in the opening minutes.
“I thought Connecticut moving the ball into the post at the beginning of the half was the turning point of the game,” Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt said.
Tennessee, though, kept clawing back into the contest. Sophomore guard Shanna Zolman hit several key shots to open up the second half, ultimately scoring 14 second-half points.
“We were getting defensive stops, but we weren’t able to convert on the offensive end,” Zolman said. “So I tried to create some shots for myself.”
Zolman led Tennessee with 19 points, Robinson added 13 on 6-of-10 shooting, and Ely added 10 points. Zolman’s efforts earned her a spot on the Final Four All-Tournament team.
For Connecticut, senior star Diana Taurasi led the Huskies with 17 points. Taurasi was named as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
After the championship loss, Summitt reflected on the type of play that got UT to the final in the first place.
“We’ve had a great season and a great run,” Summitt said. “I hope that when they reflect on this year, they realize how they grew as a team. They are one of the most determined – most ambitious – teams that I have coached in a long time.”
UConn coach Geno Auriemma agreed with Summitt.
“This team (Tennessee) is full of tough kids,” Auriemma said. “I have so much respect for Pat’s program and what they did this season.”
What they did this season is what Summitt wants her players to remember in the end.
“I know this team is in pain right now,” Summitt said. “I want the pain for this team to go away so they can realize what they have accomplished this season.”
Summitt said. “I hope that when they reflect on this year, they realize how they grew as a team. They are one of the most determined – most ambitious – teams that I have coached in a long time.”
UConn coach Geno Auriemma agreed with Summitt.
“This team (Tennessee) is full of tough kids,” Auriemma said. “I have so much respect for Pat’s program and what they did this season.”
What they did this season is what Summitt wants her players to remember in the end.
“I know this team is in pain right now,” Summitt said. “I want the pain for this team to go away so they can realize what they have accomplished this season.”
