EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CENTERS
 Fantasy Central
 Inside Game
 Video Plus
 Statitudes
 Your Turn
 Message Boards
 Email Newsletters
 Golf Guide
 Cities
 

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

NCAA Basketball Scoreboard: Recap

Recap | Box Score | Today's Scoreboard

Connecticut 72, North Carolina St. 58

Posted: Saturday March 24, 2001 05:16 PM

North Carolina St. Related Info: Team Page Conference Page City Page: • Raleigh-Durham Message Boards: • NCAA

Connecticut Related Info: Team Page Conference Page City Page: • Storrs Message Boards: • NCAA

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Connecticut avoided the fate that befell Tennessee earlier Saturday and became the first women's top seed to reach the "Elite Eight", defeating North Carolina State, 75-58, in an NCAA Tournament East Region semifinal game.

Despite being without All-Americans Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph, the defending national champions moved within one game of their fifth Final Four appearance.

Diana Taurasi scored 19 of her career-high 24 points in the first half for Connecticut (31-2), which has won 14 straight since losing at Tennessee on February 1.

The Huskies will face Louisiana Tech in the regional finals on Monday at Mellon Arena. The Lady Techsters advanced with a 78-67 victory over Missouri.

Taurasi was deadly from outside, making 6-of-8 3-pointers, including all five in the first half, when Connecticut raced to a 45-26 lead. The Huskies opened a 12-0 lead and led by as many as 20 points in the first 20 minutes.

North Carolina State (22-11) may have been heartened when Xavier, another No. 4 seed, stunned Tennessee in a Mideast Region semifinal.

Tynesha Lewis scored 24 points for the Wolfpack, who reached the "Sweet 16" with wins over Delaware and Villanova.

It was the first meeting between the teams since North Carolina State beat Connecticut, 60-52, in the 1998 East Region finals.

After winning their first two tournament games by a combined 117 points, the Huskies got more of a challenge from North Carolina State and had some sloppy moments in the second half, allowing the Wolfpack to climb back into the game.

Connecticut scored only 13 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, committed 18 turnovers and made only 10-of-22 3-pointers.

But the Wolfpack shot only 36 percent (21-of-59) from the field and could not make a serious run.

Sue Bird contributed 16 points and Swin Cash added 11 for the Huskies, who shot 46 percent (27-of-59).

Carisse Moody scored 19 points for North Carolina State, but no other player had more than nine for the Wolfpack, who dropped to 1-9 in "Sweet 16" play.