Arizona vs UConn: 2021 Women’s Final Four game preview, TV schedule
The Arizona Wildcats have a huge task on their hands as they take on the UConn Women Huskies in the Final Four. Can they pull off the upset?
TV schedule: Friday, April 2nd, 9:30 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
We’re down to the Final Four in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. And as usual, there’s a fair amount of chalk, with a trio of No. 1 seeds in Stanford, South Carolina, and UConn. The last team involved is a 3 seed in the Arizona Wildcats, who made its first Final Four appearance in program history.
Arizona (20-5) had a hard-fought path to get here. They defeated Stony Brook in the Round of 32 but had a tough fight for 40 minutes against BYU, before moving ahead with a 52-46 win. The Wildcats then upset the No. 2 seed Texas A&M Aggies in the Sweet 16, before facing off against Indiana, who just upset the No. 1 seed NC State just prior.
The game between the Hoosiers and Wildcats was close all throughout the first three quarters, but led by superstar and All-American Aari McDonald, Arizona outscored Indiana, 20-9 in the final 10 minutes to prevail, 66-53. McDonald led all scorers in the game with 33 points, as she has done in every game so far in the NCAA Women’s Tournament. She has scored 101 points in the first four games and averaging 20.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 5.2 apg on the season.
The reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year has been an all-time great for the program and can single-handedly keep Arizona in any game. But in order for them to beat UConn, McDonald will need the supporting cast to show up big time. The key players to watch for the Wildcats includes the team’s second-leading scorer Reese Cate (11.2 ppg), along with starting senior forward and leading rebounder Trinity Baptiste (8.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg).
UConn (29-1) has lost one game all season, a road setback at Arkansas. Other than that, the Huskies have been completely dominant. That includes their first three games in the NCAA Tournament, beating High Point, Syracuse, and Iowa heading into the Elite 8. Against No. 2 seed Baylor though, it was a hard fight.
The Huskies were down nearly double-digits at one point before going on a 19-0 run to take a commanding lead. Yet Baylor came back to make it a one-possession game in the final seconds. There was a little controversy with a non-foul call but UConn was able to survive with a 69-67 victory. National Freshman of the Year Paige Bueckers led all scorers with 28 points, while Christyn Williams had 21. Those two, along with guard Evina Westbrook combined to score 60 other 69 total points.
The Huskies have plenty of star power but not necessarily depth, as they played just six women in the Elite 8 game. But Bueckers, Williams, and Westbrook are as elite a trio as any team in women’s basketball. And throw in 6’5 center Olivia Nelson-Ododa and freshman forward Aaliyah Edwards in the frontcourt as defensive stoppers, you have the formula for a national title contender.
Next. Key storylines for UConn vs Arizona Women. dark
It’s going to be fun watching McDonald go up against UConn and I think she’ll have 20+ points in a great effort. But in comparing teams, I just don’t think Arizona has enough to keep up with the Huskies, who have a star guard of their own in Bueckers.
Prediction: UConn 75, Arizona 57