UConn cruises past Maryland, returns to title game

Brant James | USA TODAY Sports

TAMPA — Breaking down No. 1 seed Connecticut's 81-58 victory against No. 1 seed Maryland in the women's national semifinals at Amalie Arena on Sunday.

WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT: UConn won, but Maryland was game for quite a while. And though it might be unfair, the fact that the Huskies didn't approach their 42-point average margin of victory will in some quarters be cast as sign of vulnerability entering a rematch of the national championship game on Tuesday against Notre Dame. The Huskies (37-1) did what they needed when they needed it. Maryland got solid guard play from senior Laurin Mincy and sophomore Lexie Brown and a willingness to physically challenge UConn's Breanna Stewart, the two-time AP Player of the Year. But ultimately, Stewart got her points and plenty of support, and can tie UConn legend Diana Taurasi on Tuesday by winning three consecutive championships.

THE BIG PICTURE: Connecticut advances to its 10th national title game — the Huskies are 9-0. A night after the Kentucky men's basketball team had its march to a possible 40-0 season and national championship derailed by Wisconsin, the Huskies proved that the air of inevitability suits them well. And the Huskies proved that they have other options than Stewart, who was the No. 3 scorer at halftime (10). When Maryland pulled within six points on a Brown three-pointer with 1:39 left in the first half, it was forward Morgan Tuck who notched a layup and a three-pointer that insured a 44-33 halftime lead. Tuck opened the second half with another bomb.

Maryland, meanwhile, looks built for the future. Its sophomore core of Brown, fellow guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and center Brionna Jones have reached the Final Four in both of their college seasons and figure to develop further next season. UConn, however, isn't going anywhere.

BREAKOUT PLAYER: It's not that Tuck was a secret. The 6-2 sophomore forward entered the national semifinal averaging 14.2 points per game, but her 24 points, including a 2-for-4 effort on three-pointers provided a toxic matchup problem for Maryland as they collapsed on Stewart, who ended up leading all scorers with 25. ​

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