‘This Means We’re No. 1!’ Uconn Handles Tennessee, Awaits Ascension To Top Spot
The players rushed on the court, tumbling over each other. The arena reverberated with chants of “We’re No. 1!”
It wasn’t March and there was no championship on the line. But those were mere details Monday in the aftermath of No. 2 Connecticut’s 77-66 women’s basketball victory over No. 1 Tennessee.
The sport is at a raucous pitch in Connecticut, and it keeps on getting louder and bigger.
“This means we’re No. 1, I think,” Connecticut forward Rebecca Lobo said.
That won’t be determined until later today when the rankings are released, but Connecticut stated its case compellingly before a sellout crowd of 8,241.
“They definitely got my vote,” Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. “We’ve been able to beat a lot of good folks. But Connecticut was certainly better than Tennessee today.”
In a game between unbeaten teams and a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2, UConn (13-0) did what so many others haven’t been able to do: beat the Lady Vols (16-1).
The Huskies, who have won 28 straight at home, have never been ranked No. 1.
“We have it for now,” coach Geno Auriemma said. “I don’t know what it means. It feels good.”
This game was a sellout weeks ago. There were unconfirmed reports that tickets were being sold for up to $250. But scalpers outside Gampel Pavilion said the most they were getting was $40.
The Huskies took charge from the beginning behind point guard Jen Rizzotti, who scored 10 of her 17 points in the first half and keyed two runs that helped her team to a 41-33 lead.
“Jen settled us right away,” Lobo said. “She knew we could win it, and if we had any doubts, she took them all away. She had ice running through her veins.”
Said Auriemma: “She has a presence. She imposes herself on the game. There’s just no way to describe what she does.”
There was also center Kara Wolters, who came through when Lobo got into foul trouble in the second half. Wolters scored 12 of her 18 points after the break.
“She’s amazing,” said Lobo, who scored 13 points before fouling out with just under 5 minutes left in the game and UConn up by seven. “She just came out and really made some big shots in the second half.”
The Huskies, using a mix of manto-man defense and a 2-3 zone, held the Lady Vols to 36 percent shooting and forced 25 turnovers. Nikki McCray, Tennessee’s leading scorer, was 2 for 10 from the field.
The Volunteers forced 20 turnovers but never got closer than five points twice in the second half, the last time when Dana Johnson’s layup made it 58-53 with 9:26 left.
“They scored in the transition, they scored on the breaks,’ Summitt said. “They scored when they wanted. We just didn’t finish.”
Connecticut, which shot nearly 47 percent, remained poised after Lobo left the game with 4:52 left and the Huskies ahead 52-47.
Rizzotti helped Connecticut stay in control, as the Huskies milked the clock and found Wolters underneath. Wolters scored 10 of her points after Lobo was charged with her fourth foul with 14 minutes remaining.
“I just wanted to show I could play, especially when Rebecca was out,” Wolters said. “I knew I had to step it up.”
Nykesha Sales and Elliot each had 12 for Connecticut. Dana Johnson led the Vols with 14 points. Michelle Marciniak scored 12 and Latina Davis and McCray each finished with 10.
In the second half, Tennessee looked like it was going to make a comeback, but could only come within five points before the Huskies built leads of up to 12 points.
“We knew they were a good defensive team,” Summitt said. “But it was their offense that surprised me.”
Tennessee went into the game having beaten eight teams ranked no lower than No. 13 this season, including Stanford in the only other 1-2 matchup this season. Now Connecticut is ready to ascend to No. 1.
“If it lasts a day - if we’re No. 10 at the end of the season - these kids are never going to forget the feeling they have right now - the feeling they had when that buzzer went off,” Auriemma said. “That will last a lifetime for them. And that’s what you coach for.”