UConn vs. Syracuse: 2016 NCAA women’s basketball championship | FULL REPLAY

UConn vs. Syracuse: 2016 NCAA women’s basketball championship | FULL REPLAY

Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and the women’s national championship game, the Yukon Huskies in their home whites, the overwhelming favorite to win an 11th championship in school history. Imperative that Syracuse make some shots early, try to settle into this basketball game, Beth, but it’s the key aspect to them getting into the fullcourt pressure which has worn so many opponents down. [Music] Orange in their dark jerseys. It’s Day and Stewart to take the opening tip and the Huskies and one of their three all-Americans in the starting lineup. Mariah Jefferson at the point against that zone attacking in the lane and a foul right away on the shot by Morgan Tuck. It will go on Isabella Slim. It’s a good place to start attacking the zone. You get to the short corner. Soft little bounce pass on to one of your most efficient players, Morgan Tuck, the junior out of Bowling Brook, Illinois. Honorable mention all America last year. A little disappointed about that. So, good news for her. a WBCA first teamer this year. Spectacular in the semis with 21 points. Gina Orama calls her their Draymond Green. Beth why? Well, she’s the smart playmaker at the four position. She can make perimeter shots. You can post her up. She can guard multiple types of bodies on the interior. To me, she makes things work for Gino Oram. And he’s not bad at his job either. He’s been doing all right. The Hall of Famer has. also the head coach for the United States Olympic team coming up this summer and the WBCA coach of the year. Fullourt pressure here now to open up for Connecticut. They’re going to try and press the pressers. Alexis Peterson off the bounce and the pull up. Tuck may have gotten a piece of it. Yukon will look to counter quickly. K nurse and that is the second blocking foul here in the first minute on Slim. And this has been a Syracuse team whose formula is unique. The turnover margin is crucial. The pressure they apply is crucial. But Quinton Hillsman’s team all season has been around 313 in number of fouls committed. If you put the Huskies on the line, they’re going to make you pay. Jefferson will try for three. No good. Tuck offensive rebound. Stick back won’t go. Day grabs the rebound. She, by the way, was given the first foul. So, it’s one on her and one on Slim. Big question, can Syracuse get some clean looks? Stewart denies them the chance there. A good decision to push up in pressure because Connecticut in transition is so explosive. So, right away, you see Alexis Peterson get up in pressure and try to slow the progress of Mariah Jefferson. [Music] Three ball from Brianna Stewart and the triple is good. She’s already off to a better start than in the semis when she was in early foul trouble. And she’s just so versatile and because you do not have Katie L Samuelson, she’s got to be the three-point threat or at least one of them for Connecticut. They have been shooting it very well from downtown in the tournament. Briana Butler way outside that is within her range or green light range from her head coach Quinton Hillsman. So let’s see. We’ve seen a block, a three, and let’s see. Does the mid-range go? No. Another offensive rebound though. Some problems for Syracuse rebounding out of the zone. [Music] [Applause] Stewart, the threetime most outstanding player at the Final Four, looking for a fourth. Short corner tuck. Long on the shot. Weak side Gabby Williams, the new member of the starting lineup, and she kicks it out to Jefferson. You can see what Gabby Williams gives you already. And and will Clinton Hillsman use a timeout here. Is he trying to just get across half court? I don’t I think you got to be careful about letting it get too far out in front of you, Beth. Peterson gets the open three. Looked like he was thinking about calling the timeout and then things opened up in front of him. Nurse off the fake. Chuck, another triple. Slim’s got it. She’s off to a slow start. Morgan Chuck 0 for three. Britney Sykes will pull up the Orange. The problem finding the bottom of the net here early on. 0 for five in their first trip to the finals. [Music] Boy, they’re patient. They’re methodical. They’re just navigating until they find the open spot. Stewart with a hand in her face. Can’t get that one to fall. This is Brianna Butler and she’s going to be called for the offensive foul as Kia Nurse was there to take the charge. Three up, three down. Championships and most outstanding player, Brianna Stewart gets the block. She has been so good at that her entire career. And of course, the versatility of the offensive game. You need her to move the to the perimeter because your freshman Katie Lamus has a broken foot. Yeah, I can do that, too. She has in her championship game experience. These seniors have a championship game average. This is their fourth. She’s averaging a double double with three blocks per game just in finals. And there’s nurse for two. And it’s a 90 start for Connecticut. [Applause] Orange are trying to catch their breath. Good balance for Connecticut. Four different guys have scored. Butler step back three. They are one and done. Remember we told you part of their formula was offensive rebounds. Poor pass there by Stewart. But one thing Syracuse has not been able to do yet against Gino and the Huskies, get to the offensive glass. Something that they are so proficient at. It’s one and done. They’ve been averaging 17 offensive rebounds per game in this NCAA tournament. They don’t have any yet. They are approaching four minutes into this first quarter. Sykes gets the first scoop up and in for the Orange. The Chief’s Crucial because this is a Connecticut team that is outstanding on the defensive end. Sometimes you need somebody to put it on the deck and create their own. Stewart gets it right back from Tuck. And look at them attack that pressure. Well, it’s not press break. It’s press offense, right? They’re not just looking to to get it over half court and set up. They want to attack and to score. One of the problems for the Syracuse zone tonight, even the big spectacular passers for Connecticut as Peterson gets a time bounce. The junior out of Columbus has been phenomenal in the postseason, upping her scoring average by 10 per game. They’re up to 24 a night. Jefferson on the drive, the new career assist leader of Connecticut, passing Diana Terasi on Sunday in the National Semis. Stewart short on the shot with a foul on Cornelia Fondrin. It is constant motion and movement for this Connecticut offense. It’s surgical, Beth. Whether it’s coming in transition or against this two-3 zone, they’re going to just be unselfish. The ball will move, players will move. And of course, it helps when you have the best player in the country. Yes, surgical indeed. Dr. Burke, let’s check in with Holly Ro. Well, as we’ve mentioned before, Brianna Stewart grew up just 17 miles from the Syracuse campus. She actually went to Quinton Hillsman’s basketball camps when she was a little kid. He said, “I knew she was special right away when the first day of camp she got whacked in the nose, blood dripping down her face. I called her dad, Brian. He said, “Ah, just patch her up. She’ll be okay.” He said, “I knew right then and there we had a special one on our hand.” A terrific young lady from just north of the Syracuse campus wanted to get away, wanted to challenge herself at the University of Connecticut with coach Arima. And she is charged for her first personal foul. And not surprisingly, she’s off to a fast start here. She’s eating up defensive rebounds and she’s two for four from the floor. as difficult a match up as you’ll find in the game. Transition in the mid-range, it matters not. Quinton Hill Hillsman, oh boy, I got my hands full tonight. [Music] You know, I think co coach motivates me in in a way that, you know, is is different than than everyone else on the team. I think that, you know, he’s he’s always on me. Oh, that was terrible. that was that, you know, when I hear it, it’s like it just it just makes me so so annoyed, so mad, that kind of thing. And, you know, he’s trying to motivate me to be the best player I can be. I think the best coaches, Beth Mowens, are the ones who if they see greatness inside of a player, they feel it’s their responsibility to draw it out. And that means making kids uncomfortable at times. And Rebecca Lobo has said that he she has watched Gino pull with Brianna the same things he pulled when she was a player. Bench them, give them the silent treatment. And Rebecca said, “The remarkable thing is it worked with me, it’s working with Stewie.” And what did she say the other day? It’ll take Brianna probably a couple of years before she’ll learn to like coach again. Yeah. Right. Listen, these kids are coached hard and it’s not always pleasant. I would I would bet if there’s 12 kids on the team, probably 12 of them have been brought to tears at a point. But if you’re a competitive person, Beth, you want your maximum ability to shine through. And that’s what happens with this program. And after a rocky first year at Connecticut, Steuart has gone on now to become the most decorated and the most successful college basketball player in history. And here she is, number 30 in white. Tuck working down low in the paint and a foul if this is going to be on Briana Day. That’s two and it is. So the 6-4 junior from Raleigh picks up her second. This will be the fifth and sixth free throws of the period with four and a half remaining for Connecticut. As I mentioned how high they are in terms of number of fouls per game and if they put Yukon here, it’s going to be a long night for them. It’s also the 15 p foul Dora. So it’s a bonus the rest of the way. Briana Day will check out her twin sister Bria Day will come on. So Syracuse essentially going to run four guards. And it’s interesting that Yukon, who has been a pressure team, is pressuring a team that likes to press. On the drive, Stewart bothered the shot and then kicked it out to Nurse. Setting up inside weak side Stewart wide open three. She’s already got 10 here in the first six minutes. Brian and Heather enjoying the view right now. Parents [Applause] look at the versatility on the defensive end. They’ll switch multiple positions. So for a moment Stewart was checking the small point guard Peterson. Another block. That’s a couple blocks and a couple of bothers for Stewart. It leads to the breakout the other way. Took with the lay. The signature of Briana Stewart is all over this basketball game. Rebounding, blocking shots, intimidating at the rim and creating opportunities in transition for her team. And a Syracuse offense that loves to dribble penetrate is running into a brick wall in there right now. Peterson will stay outside again. It’s one and done for a Syracuse team that really needs some help on the offensive glass. Tuck, look at her work. Tipped it away from two orange jerseys. [Music] had that shot turned back. [Music] Jefferson so cool and calm running the point. The double team and the blocking foul on Bria Day. That’s her first. Brianna Stewart is all over the floor this time against the zone just staying space. Gabby Williams comes in and she is on the interior. And then how about on the defensive end of the floor? That wing span. She has got condor like skills and that leads to this a number break two-on-one situation. She is number one all time in career blocks, number two in scoring, number four in rebounding in their school history. So versatile. And what do you notice about the pace of this game? It’s being played at the Connecticut Huskies tempo. They’re controlling every aspect of this ball game because when Syracuse beat Washington in the national semifinals, Washington was sped up. They were making poor decisions under duress of multiple traps. You’ve got a Connecticut team that’s just saying, “Okay, we’re going to make decisions based on what you’re doing, but we will not be sped up.” Turnovers have not been a factor. They do not have a three-pointer. They do not have an offensive rebound. Those were three key statistics for them. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] and five on the shot clock. Knocked out of bounds by Syracuse. But it’s the year’s first major and we’ll have the first and second rounds from Augusta right here on ESPN. Jordan Spe looking to defend his title after last year’s epic performance. It’s the Masters Thursday and Friday at 3 Eastern and also on ESPN. How about our colleague Mike Trico left here on a Sunday night got to a Monday morning shoot for the Masters. He is the master Mike Trico. His wife Debbie is a former Syracuse point guard. We’re in attendance here watching the game in the semifinals on Sunday. The foul is charged to Britney Sykes and again back to the free throw line for Connecticut. They are seven for eight. [Applause] The rare miss for Mariah Jefferson. [Applause] She’s only missed five now the entire season. It’s the second one to go. Substitution coming on for Syracuse. They do have a lot of bodies to throw at you. Quinton Hillsman has gone nine or 10 deep throughout the tournament. And you had mentioned it. They went to the four guard lineup, try to spread you out, maybe get a little handling and shooting. And are they going to get a hold of Mariah Jefferson here? [Applause] That will be the first on Mariah. [Music] Jefferson trying to deny Peterson. They’re going to keep it out of her hands and Sykes will bring it across midcourt as they work that high pick and roll action. Butler with nurse draped all over. Rihanna trying to call the screen. Hard hedge there by Ker. They don’t let her get one up, but Taylor Ford will try and hit it. She’s three for three from downtown. Yeah, and she checks in prepared to shoot it. Beth, she did it the other night against Washington. A nice job. That’s a skill to be able to come off the bench shot ready and in a mode and a mindset to be able to just, hey, I need to contribute in the limited minutes I get. Three for three in this final four and tough counters. It’s a 123 run right now for Yukon. Peterson driving the lane trying to take advantage of Stewart being sucked out on the perimeter and can’t hit the layup. [Applause] Jefferson on the drive, the kick out again. Stewart doesn’t get the bounce. Caler, the freshman, keeps it alive. Jefferson long on that attempt. Peterson nice on the hesitation there to draw the foul on Nurse. That’ll be the first on Kia. Well, we talked about what they like to do and that’s shoot a number of threes. As Quinton Hillsman likes to say, we like to get 10. They love when he reacts like this. I think they get an awful lot of juice from his persona. You talk to the players, they say he’s the guy that instills all the confidence in a program that had never been to the Sweet 16, Doris, and all they do is they go out to Sou Falls. They knock out the number one seed in the region, South Carolina. You’re staring across the court at Tennessee in the region final and they took them right out. They’re now moving on and beating Washington here. They played fearless. They were not concerned with the name across the front of the jersey. They just said, “We are equally as talented. We’re going to play as hard as you are.” And look at where they find themselves in a chance to upset Connecticut. Beat one bunch of Huskies in the semis, but a much taller order here tonight with the undefeated Yukon Huskies at 37 and0 and winners of 74 straight. Here is a live ball turnover. Can the Orange take advantage? They cannot. Good ball movement again. Stewart long on that attempt. [Music] Syracuse with numbers. Butler step back. Got away from Nurse and hits. Let’s see. The more they can score in transition or semi-transition early offense, the better off they’re going to be cuz if you’re going to try to score against Connecticut set defense, it’s going to be a long night. Those are great. Final seconds of the quarter. Jefferson gets it up in time. It goes and she drills the three. What a counter by the All-American point guard. Well, you give up a three on one end. You think maybe Syracuse is going to end the quarter with a little momentum under the rest of the end of quarter clock. Look at that. Mariah Jefferson delivers. Defender draped all over. Not a tremendous size, but delivers under pressure. Well, coming up after the timeout, we will hear from Orange Coach Quinton Hillsman. Well, coach, your team was down, but that three-point barrage, you guys have that confidence building hitting those threes. What’s made you able to hit those right now? Well, we’re getting out in transition. We get some unsettled situations. Let’s give us We got to make some shots in transition and really push tempo. You pride yourself on being a great offensive rebounding team, but they’ve got the edge on the boards right now. How can you get better in that category? Well, we got to just go every time. I think it’s opportunities where they’re going to the glass really hard. So, we got to do the same thing. Thank you, coach. Thank you. Well, thank you very much, Holly. Uh, talking about Quinton Hillsman, the NCAA tournament appearances, just one in the previous 10 seasons before his arrival, and now look at the tournament appearances and certainly the wins. And it’s been a style that he has adopted and adjusted to playing the zone, playing the pressure, and talking about offensive rebounds, turnovers, and threes, and they are not going their way so far. And that has been their formula. I’ve never heard a college basketball coach, Beth, say that they don’t care about field goal percentage, but his associate head coach, Von Reed, convinced him that it’s all about number of possessions. But to this point, 25% shooting in the game versus a Connecticut team that’s 42%. around us the deficit. Ford will try for three. That’s off the mark. The big three for Syracuse are just three of 14. Peterson, Butler, and Sykes. Yet another possession where they don’t get an offensive rebound. We’re unaccustomed to seeing this from Syracuse. They get the line turnover. Finally with the steal. That’s the third takeaway for the Orange. Peterson gives it right back. Two one. Jefferson. Terrific job by Nurse. And Nurse when she’s attacking the basket, able to score for herself or her teammates, that’s where she is special. I think at her most comfortable. Jefferson now with nine. Tuck with nine. Stewart with 10 to lead the way for Connecticut. [Music] on the drive. Fond can’t get the finish at the rim. Pupper and Sykes are both out right now for Syracuse. Waiting to check back in. Ball’s not touching the ground for Yukon offensively. Peterson [Applause] drops it off for Morrison who loves going to that left side gets tied up. The help defense coming from Kier and it will go over to Connecticut. Now this team is always in sound defensive position and if one teammate gets beat as Tuck did there you had K and Nurse right in the gap anticipating her teammate might need help. It gets him out into a twoon-one break and I like that Nurse gave that basketball up early. against the pressure now. Gaddy Williams, who got the start for the injured Katie L. Samuelson tonight. They really have not had a whole lot of problems. Sykes nearly took it away from her old AAU teammate, Brianna Stewart. They played together during the summers growing up. [Applause] [Music] Talk about commitment. It was a 4-hour drive, one way for Brianna Stewart to go down to Philly and play with the Philly Bells in her AAOU days. She and Sykes still very good friends. They’ve been texting each other all week. Off the bounce, Williams fouled. Let’s take you back to their younger days in Philly. There was Sykes and Stewie. [Music] Holly Rose got more on the story for us. colleagues and that friendship has really continued. Britney Sykes, a tremendous story, two torn ACLs within 10 months. She said her teammates have been there for her every step of the way. She really teared up in our meeting talking about the great support of her teammates, but the only other player outside of her teammates that was there for her, texting her, checking on her constantly was her former AU teammate, Pria Stewart. Yeah, they’ve got a good bond, the two of them. And of course, Sykes and her teammates, what a moment emotionally for them talking to us. Not only was it a a second chance, but a third chance she’s talked about after the two ACL’s for Sykes. Beth, I’m so impressed. You know, when you think about consecutive knee injuries, how fearlessly Sykes plays the game. She is a slasher by nature. Gets into the mid-range and that’s a real hurdle for athletes to get over, particularly backto back injuries like that. Syracuse is going to turn it over here. Sykes, by the way, along with Morgan Tuck, can both return to school next year or both could opt to move on. And if I’m Tuck, I’m going because if I’m either, I’m going. You’ve got a limited window with which to make money with your body as an athlete and and with your history of injuries, I I would want to maximize that. [Applause] [Music] It’s expected that Morgan would be a high choice. Of course, Stewart would go number one. [Music] Shot clock’s under 10. Good screen up top by Williams and Nurse stepped on the sideline to turn it over. That’s four for Connecticut. And one of the challenges for Syracuse now that these two teams are are no longer facing off in their conferences is Syracuse is facing Connecticut for the first time in a long time. many of these players for the first time and to get us an understanding of how fast things come out. This can be an illegal screen on sights. It’s a difficult thing particularly in this environment. You couple first time playing Yukon with first time on the stage and that is truly a difficult task. Their last meeting was uh three years ago. Of course, prior to that, they played every season in the uh in the old Big East. There was an opportunity. Brianna Stewart was telling us she was frustrated she did not get a chance as nurse sits for three. Did not get a chance for a homecoming game inside the Carrier Dome where she used to go watch games with her dad as a kid. Her homecoming was actually down at Colgate in Hamilton, New York, uh more than an hour’s drive south of her home. Sykes with the pull up over Stewart. That will allow Syracuse to set up its pressure. [Music] Nurse on the drive and a foul. One of the problems is the size for Connecticut. They’re able to see over the top, but of course the the good passers they’ve got at every spot on the floor. Well, they get it to the middle of the floor and then they’ve got vision and opportunities all over. Let’s go back over to Holly. Well, very interesting situation for Kia Nurse tonight. Her uncle and aunt Donovan McNab married into the family and her aunt Rossky. Where do they sit? Do you sit and support the Yukon family when you become a legend as a quarterback at Syracuse? I did ask Donovan what he was going to do and he’s like, I love my family, but I am orange for life. I have seen Roxy. I thought she was kind of boopping back and forth between the sections. So, you know, it’s a very difficult situation. He’s got to go home to his wife. Of course, Roxy is Kia Nurse’s aunt, but she is also a former Syracuse point guard who guided the Orange to their last win over Connecticut 20 years ago. That came after the Huskies had just won their first national championship. And now here they are 20 years later trying to get their 11th. But look at the pressure Jefferson puts on you. Peterson. You get the sense towards they’re they’re having to rush those three looks. And meanwhile, the quick strike the other way. Stewart to nurse. Time out. Orange. Those faces look like at the moment they were Syracuse fans and not enjoying the score at all. The national championship game here in Indianapolis. 38-5. The Huskies on top. How about some of the former Husky legends in the house with twotime champ Sue Bird, Satlano Bramova, and Tina Charles and a couple of titles for Stephanie Doulson. And then there’s the two-time champ and the three-time weight trophy winner and what is it? Three titles now in the WNBA for for Maya Moore. She’s catching up to Diana Terasi in total number of titles. Maya closing the gap on DT. Is she catching up in your mind on the all-time number one player in Husky history? Who Maya or Maya? I skipped up under by day. Listen, it’s a great tease cuz I’m not going to give you what I believe until the second half. Coming up later, folks. And Brianna Stewart is going to use a timeout because she didn’t like what was happening against their pressure. They didn’t have anybody in the middle of the floor. We’ll take the timeout with them with both teams battling for that last playoff spot in the West. Don’t miss both games on ESPN. Of course, the Pacers right now holding on to that last spot in the East. Stewart couldn’t get the finish. Crashing to the floor. Fondren now the other way. And they’re going to turn it over. They had shooters all over the place and Fondrin couldn’t make the decision. Been a few opportunities tonight where Quinton Hillsman’s team has used their defense or or a miscue or miss shot and gotten into transition but haven’t been able to convert. You cannot miss those chances. Best turnover margin in the country and number two in steals. They really like to push the tempo. They’ve been up over 80 points their last three games. Sykes with the slap coming from behind to get nurse. I just I love watching this young woman play. She plays so hard and look at the athleticism, the timing and the ability to do that without fing junior out of Newark who came in four years ago with Butler and they changed this program. Tuck got it to go as Stewie was hanging around waiting for it. I’ll tell you again, she makes two or three plays a game where her hands are up above the rim. Tuck and Stewart now both in double digits. Sykes short on the shot. Syracuse is 6 for 23 now in this first half. [Music] Huskies, meanwhile, are shooting 46%. They’ve also hit five three-pointers. [Applause] It’s going to be a traveling violation. We’ll go over to the orange. So, there’s been a couple of times tonight where two or three trips in a row the Huskies have come away empty. It’s just converting on the other side has been so problematic for Syracuse. And the other part of that is they’re taking a lot of shots, but they aren’t getting to the offensive glass, which has been so crucial to what they do. Peterson hits off the crossover. Under four minutes to go here in the first half, the Huskies doubling up the orange right now. Stewart an open look for Brianna. Can’t hit it. And that’s going to go over to the orange. And they might have to take care of some blood on her elbow and her jersey as well on her back right there. [Applause] Would like to take a moment, by the way, to say hello to our dear friend and colleague Dave O’Brien, who is usually sitting courtside in this chair and is away on assignment with Major League Baseball right now. on over the years. Dave has been such a wonderful voice for college basketball. So informative and entertaining. And Dave, on behalf of our entire crew here, we’re thinking of you and we feel your spirit here in Indie. That’s my partner. I miss him very much. I know he’s heartbroken he can’t be here, but one of the best in the business, as is Brianna Stewart. And it doesn’t matter where she is on the floor. In fact, Yukon will miss the places in which they deploy her. And she has been terrific from three-point territory. One of the areas I think she’s most improved in her career, Beth, is the ability to move without the basketball, to find the gaps and seams, to become a target for her teammates. The other thing that Gino has always talked about, similar to Diana, similar to Maya, these big moments, she’s not afraid to succeed and to shine as she has done in her championship game history. [Applause] Look at the burst by Jefferson to get out on the run. Scoops it up with the right hand on the left side. Coast to coast for Mo Jeff. [Applause] [Music] Nice use of the screen for two. I like her substitution because like Sykes, she can create off the bounce against good defense. and they’re going to have to make those kinds of plays to make any inroads here. Sometimes Connecticut is gapped so well. They’re so sound defensively. It takes good individual offense. Oh, what a ball fake by Tuck to get the defender up and go right by. How about the last two possessions? Mariah Jefferson with speed and then Tuck with a little bit of savvy backto back buckets in different fashion. [Music] Butler Jefferson getting a turn on right now. She just cannot get a clean look after setting a new NCAA single season record with 128 made threes this year. Fond’s going to take it inside instead. [Music] [Applause] [Music] You feel like every basket has had to be an individual play, not necessarily off the action they run. Syracuse with just one assist on their nine buckets. It took some time for Mariah Jefferson to understand how to mix speeds. In this instance, she’s just going to use that blazing speed. And how about the finish has to go over her head, crosses over Butler. That is perfect. [Music] 57 senior out of Glenn Heights, Texas. Two times the Nancy Lieberman award winner for the best point guard in the country. She was so clutch last year in this championship game on the defensive end with the job she did containing Jewel Lloyd. Sykes short on that three. And again, Nurse was right there in her grill. You think about the great history of point guard play at Connecticut and Schubird, Diana Taraji, multiple time winners, and of course the great Skyler Diggins. Stewart swoops to the bucket for two. A dozen now for Brianna. [Applause] Huskies shooting 50% now in the game. You know, they come in the top scoring team, the top scoring defense. numbers are there for a reason. With the success they have had, not only this season, but on their 74 game winning streak, all of them have been double- digit wins, and they have won 121 of 122 games. And Quinton Hillsman said because of his association with Connecticut in the Big East, he said, “I’ve been on every end of that. I’ve had the lead at half by nine. I’ve been blown out. I’ve lost in some heartbreakers. Kier gets fouled on the drive. Reminder coming up at the half, Kevin De Gandhi, Rebecca Lobo, and Cara Lawson will have our Northwestern Mutual halftime report. [Music] [Applause] going to be a hard hard to avoid a conversation about how well the seniors have been playing with Tuck now 13 points Stewart with 12 Jefferson with 11 [Applause] outscoring Syracuse by themselves so far that’s what Tino has said he said I trust those three seniors implicitly they have proven over and over that they are prepared to meet the biggest moments [Applause] of has Been a bit of a bittersweet final four knowing that they have a job to do but also knowing it is their last game together here tonight. Peterson the kick out and Yukon forces the turnover. Shot clock is off so they can hold it for one. [Applause] I’m not sure they saw the blood on the back of that jersey of Brianna Stewart because it’s still there. And a piece on her shorts there as well. Very prominent that one on her back. Final 15 seconds of the half. Stewart will pull up and knock it down. Can’t guard that release point. Too high. Too good. Syracuse can’t beat the buzzer with that shot. 50-23. The seniors with 38 of those points for Connecticut as they try and close out their collegiate careers. Perfect in the postseason. And look at the numbers tonight. All in double digits already. And one of those Brianna Stewart with Holly Brianna. How do you think it describes the mindset of these three seniors? You guys are outscoring Syracuse by yourselves. We wanted to come out and make sure that our last game was our best one. And you know, in order to do that, we need a win. Despite the score, how will you close out this second half? What will the focus be? I think the focus will continue to be to, you know, contain their guards on some shoot threes and, you know, handle the pressure. They’re going to come out in the second half and try to, you know, create a run for themselves. You’re 20 minutes away from your fourth national championship. How can you stay focused on that? Uh, that that exact that’s exactly it. 20 minutes away. That’s it. Thanks, Brianna. Thank you, Holly. 50-23 Yukon leading Syracuse. Let’s get it over to Kevin Gandhi and the crew for the Northwestern Mutual halftime report as the Husky seniors try and go out in style. Syracuse not getting to their game in part, Beth, because Yukon is so sound in every phase. Big difference for the big three for Connecticut. 38 points for Tuck, Jefferson, and Stewart. And they score on their first possession of the second half. A much different story for the Syracuse Big Three as they go just 5 for 22. And they’ve got to figure out something for Alex Peterson, who has beenounded by Jefferson, the WBCA defensive player of the year, into just two for 10 shooting. And keep in mind, Bev, you can see the constant switching that the versatility Yukon possesses on the defensive end of the floor. It makes it nearly impossible for you to run offense unless you have a good counter to the switching. And thus far, Syracuse has not had that counter. And and DB, how special is it when you’ve got four and five players that can switch off and play point guards the way that Yukon can? I think that’s the overlooked part of their championship. They’re so pretty offensively, you forget that it’s built on the defensive end. Stewart hits on that attempt. [Applause] [Music] Here is Peterson with the matchup on Jefferson. They have not been able to free up their three-point shooters so far, which is another aspect of how critical their game is. Are just two for 12 tonight. Day tries to score on the left side. Tuck had it and then fell out of bounds. Moments ago, Holly chatted with Britney Sykes. Well, despite the big deficit, what did you guys talk about in the locker room about ways to get back in this game? Well, we just have to take it in four-minute segments, you know, just chip away at it. We got offensive rebound because when we offensive rebound, we can stop those type of runs and and the big transition team. So, if we get the offensive rebounds and just chip away at the four-minute segments, we’ll do good. What’s left in your group that lets us know that you’re not going to give up in this fight? It’s the national championship. This is what you came here to do. you have to compete and you have to come to play. Thank you. Thank you. I think that’s the key. So often with the disparity with Yukon and how they win games, you’ll see a team sort of lose it mentally and stop competing and that’s when it gets ugly. So Syracuse for me, Beth, and Quinton Hillsman, you’ve established so much in your 10ear run at Syracuse. This half is as much about pride. You may not be able to overcome this deficit, but there should be no quit in your team. It’s a team that set a school record with 30 wins this year. A team that was ranked number 23 in the preseason polls. And really, they speak about the rest of the country other than Syracuse or other than Yukon where there was a lot of parody this year. It was wide open tournament other than the Huskies. And it’s Syracuse that survived that. Nice dash truck to Gabby Williams. You can see why he calls her there. Draymond Green, right? The smarts and playmaking and passing ability that she has. Morgan Tuck. Fourth assist for Morgan. If you want to know what this program’s about, how about four different players with at least 100 assists. Sykes with the drive there and how they pass it down from team to team, generation to generation. Tuck was telling us that she learned how to become a better passer by watching the player at her position before her, Stephanie Doulson. Well, she was the master and they ran their offense through her and that that ability as you see Steph Doulson who was a part of two national championships in her own right and of course went a little bit outside the Yukon code when she graduated in terms of hairstyle. Purple not allowed in stores but now she’s pros have at it. Stewart with a catch and draws the foul. [Music] That will be the third on Briana Day and Brianna Stewart to the line. Hi. Well, the beauty of Yukon is they tend to recruit kids who are all about the team. Brianna Stewart was one of the top recruits in the country. But when she got ready to sign her letter of intent, she did not pull one of those fancy press conferences or the hats where she’s going to switch it. Her her and her dad, Brian, she’s just doing it on the top of their car in front of his job. Very lowkey. That’s the kind of superstar Brianna’s been. It’s not all about the lights and the attention. It’s about the hard work and just getting it done on the roof of your dad’s car. I don’t think he would sign someone. You get the sense in Junior Orama that he doesn’t want to sign the player who with all due respect to our company wants to be signing on ESPN with a little drama. Stewart snags the rebound. The long outlet to Jefferson who pulls up for two. Seniors connect again. Yeah, she was working hard on that pull up. Think about her ability to score in all phases. We saw her get to the rim. She’s a vastly improved three-point shooter. And now the in between game. Jefferson, another Jefferson is another one who had to kind of b her time, wait her turn as a freshman. She made contributions certainly to that championship team and then jumped into the starting role as a sophomore. [Music] [Applause] Sykes, nice spin off the window. Really nice looking player, Beth. her ability as Quinton gets to a timeout. Her ability to create so important. Yeah, Rihanna Stewart has always been a shot blocking phenom. How about get your head up and get it to a teammate. Easy opportunity. Connecticut making it look easy. 16 points for Brianna Stewart. Yukon shooting 54% as they look on inside Gamble Pavilion. back on the stores campus getting ready perhaps to celebrate her 11th national championship and for Steuart and her senior mates their fourth in a row. Never happened before in college basketball history. Remember during UCLA’s run of seven straight on the men’s side the freshman were not eligible to play. So, a lot of those guys won three straight, but nobody’s ever won four as they continue to slice right through the pressure. Well, once they get the ball to the middle of the floor, Beth, and you put it in the hands of Mariah Jefferson, it’s a threeon two situation. And you know, the vast majority of times she will make the right decision. [Applause] Alexis Peterson step back was blocked by Williams. Bond has it and muscles it up. She’s got some toughness to her fondant because she’s staring at the great shot block of Brianna Stewart with all of that wingspan. [Applause] Kentucky. The double team comes and it’s Fondrin who came over to help and draws the walk. One of the things Gino Orama said to us at shootaround was in the second half of the 1981 championship Bob Knight deployed Isaiah Thomas in the middle of the floor. So the point guard became the recipient after the first line and he became against Carolina the playmaker. And it’s so interesting that even in this moment he’s drawing on his history as a sportsman, as a a basketball afficionado [Music] using a little Bob Knight. [Music] [Applause] Why not? Back here in the state of Indiana, that’s the perfect time to pull it out. Also, of course, the home state of that legendary UCLA coach John Wooden [Applause] [Music] Butler. There has not been a lot of open air space for her. That’s a quick tie up. Yeah, it’s going to be a held ball. will stay with Syracuse. In basketball, pros in college, Phil Jackson is now one in front of Gino. That could change in the next hour. And then of course, John Wooden with 10. Red Hourback nine with the Celtics and the head coach ameritus at Tennessee. Pat Summit with eight. And the thing I like is I don’t get the sense that he’s necessarily comfortable with the comparison, but smarter basketball people than me, and I’ll tell Jeff Gundy and Bob Knight have said that if they were starting a basketball program, regardless of gender, he’s one of the first people that they would look at. That speaks volumes. [Music] He’s a man from very humble beginnings. Grew up in that basketball hot bed of Philly. learn from some of the best in that city before moving on to Connecticut and really taking a program that was nowhere at the time and slowly and meticulously building it into this championship team now over the last 20 years. They’ve won 10 titles. Right now though, it’s an 80 run for Syracuse and they’re going to be whistled for the foul. Four and a half to go here in the third. Gino Ariama, the head coach of the Yukon Huskies, continues chasing history. During the last two offseasons, Yukon has turned to the Marines to try to build some mental toughness and some team leadership. They have been getting up very early every single week working with gunnery sergeant Beltran. Gino Arama said he was amazing. who put the team through activities learning to work together in ways that they never had before. Brianna Stewart and the players say that it was very tough, but it really built some team leadership amongst the group and they’re very proud of what Gunnery Sergeant Beltran put them through who were mentally tough this season. I like the story, Holly, where they they come to the gym one day and they’re expecting that sort of outdoor training that we just saw video of and instead the lights were out in the gym. The only lights flickering were the exit sign, bright lights, and the gunnery sergeant started screaming and chaos broke out. [Music] And if you can handle those kind of moments, uh you at least know what to expect when the best fullcourt pressure that we’ve seen in this postseason comes at you. They have handled it with a lot of poise here tonight and really have been for the most part unaffected by that Syracuse pressure. And in fact, it has been the Yukon defense that has been dominant. And the foul will be called on Stewart. That’s sure second. Thursday at 5 Eastern, it’s the Frozen Four in Tampa with Boston College and Quinnipic facing off in the National Semifinals on ESPN 2. Visit nca.com, the home for all 90 NCAA championships. I’m sure it’ll be a great Frozen 4, but I’m heartbroken that there will be a new champion crown because the Friers College Friers went down. [Applause] That is always a fun event. Substitution here. Ford comes on for Butler. Under four minutes to go in the third quarter. [Applause] Tuck the rebound. [Applause] She’s got 15, five rebounds, four assists. Stewart’s got 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists. She could be flirting with a triple double here tonight. Of course, remember she has won the previous three most outstanding player awards. And uh perhaps a little friendly battle between those two is to see who’s going to get this year’s if the story continues to unfold this way. And this is what you want to see. And that got the Syracuse bench up and reacting. A little bit of frustration on Stewie’s part. You could see it. They they don’t want to concede a possession, but this is what you want. Play hard. This is about pride. And I think Fondrin has been absolutely terrific all day competing, trying to get to the window. That is nicely done, Beth. Well, Doris, this is also the winningest senior class in Syracuse history. the job they have done over the course of the last four years in Fondrin and Morrison Butler and Taylor Ford and Sykes who came in with them and who has one year if she wants it. We think two things when we think Syracuse, at least I do. I can’t do a television show without finding somebody from the New House School of Broadcasting, one of the best in the entire country. They’re everywhere. And of course, basketball success, most notably under Jim Beaheim, but certainly now with Clinton Hillsman at the helm of the women’s program. sold them on trying to build something special and do it a little differently than everybody else. We’ve talked about their style and how unorthodox it is, but it’s an opportunity if you like to play a lot of in-your-face defense and run the floor and shoot a lot of threes. It’s not a bad place to be. Is a timeout here cuz they’re making a little run, setting up their pressure. You’re you’re starting to feel them a little bit. It’s a 120 run. You’re starting to get a look at the multiple presses. There’s a different level of intensity on the defensive end. And another steal here. Pondering going to go right at the rim. 14 in a row for Syracuse. And it’s now back within 19. [Applause] [Music] The skip to nurse steps inside the line. Orange come out with it. Sykes. Jefferson took a chance. Britney will pull up and here comes Syracuse. Little complacency on Connecticut’s side. A little intensity and now Gino will use a timeout. They’re within 17. When’s the last time Connecticut has had to use a defensive timeout. As I said, Beth, you you can’t concede mentally because the score is so wide. You’ve got to play for pride and go possession by possession. Sites told Holly, “We’re going to play in four-minute segments.” Well, guess what? Advantage Syracuse last four possessions cuz this run has been terrific. And you’re starting to see the Syracuse that showed up throughout the NCAA tournament. Pressure turning into easy baskets in transition. And Sykes and Fondrin have been at the lead of this thing. And wisely a mid-range opportunity. And Gino Orama, the 10-time national champion, uses a timeout bet. Not only did they win the four-minute segment, Doris, they pounded them. A 16 to nothing run for the Orange. And can they continue this and make the champ sweat it out a little bit here in the second half? That group of Syracuse alums on the women’s program, they are working hard. They’re sweating as much as the players. I think there has not been a lot of postseason success to cheer about in this program. And this year has been such a different story. You got to get some verve back. You got to get back to that attack mentality if you’re Connecticut. [Applause] Shot clock winding down. Kier will have to put it up for three. Oh, nice offensive rebound for Stewart. And look at Stewie. Let me just take control of the possession and tell you what play we’re running. Senior doesn’t want to let this one get away. [Music] Nurse fouled on the drive. I think they’re going to say it was on the pass. It was on the pass. They will get a fresh 30 here. That is the fourth foul of the quarter on Syracuse. Remember, women’s college basketball, the rules change. On the fifth, you start to shoot two free throws. There’s been some discussion about whether that’s good for the game or bad for the game. I certainly like the pace of quarters. There’s the drought for Connecticut. Can they break it? [Applause] Approaching six minutes without a bucket for Yukon. and inside to Chuck. Two feet in the paint. Nice pass by Truck to the other side for Calard. Five assists for Morgan. And their first points in over 6 minutes. Day missed it inside. [Applause] General waving his fingers like, “Let’s go get the ball moving. Let’s get some pop to our offense again. [Music] First, the three rattles in and out. Still can’t dial it in, but Sykes with the offensive rebound and it’s going to Connecticut with 10 seconds. Let’s watch Morgan Tuck do work again. Her passing skills, the ability under duress. Look at four bodies are around her. She doesn’t panic Beth. She simply drops it to the weak side cuz she knows that’s where it’s open. Gord will come on here for defense for Syracuse. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Jefferson Syracuse will throw the double at her. Tuck has time. Finds Kier off the bounce. Gets it inside and gets the bucket. Two buzzer beers in three quarters tonight for Connecticut. Just precision execution. Always one of the best offensive teams in the country. You want to press us, we’re going to put it to you with numbers in transition. Just perfect execution against a Syracuse team that had seized a little bit of momentum. Beautifully done from Kier. Well, he is the Lord of the Rings. 10 of them to be exact. He’s he’s run out of fingers if he gets another one. Coming up next, we’ll hear from Coach Arima. Well, coach, Syracuse went on a 160 run there. You called a defensive timeout. What was your message to to your team at that point? You know, we knew at some point it could get like that. And um no matter how hard you try, sometimes you can’t stop it. Um we’ve got a veteran team in some ways. You know, our three seniors are veterans. And um we made some uncharacteristic mistakes. You know, they sped us up a little bit, but we got it back. And u now we’ll um we’ll see if we can’t be a little more aggressive and a little bit smarter these next 10 minutes. 10 minutes to a title. Coach, what will you say to them when you take the huddle right now to remind them what to focus on? Well, that last run reminded them what to focus on. So, I don’t think we’re going to be looking too far ahead right now. Okay, coach. Thank you. Thank you, Hollywood. Well, when you play for Gino, you can expect success. His four-year players, 70 of them total. 68 have been to the final four. 52 of the 70 have won a national championship. Keep in mind, this is a run in a program that prior to his arrival had one winning season. And now, it’s a great lineage. It’s a uh generational type program. All of the stars have come back to watch them. And I truly wish more women could be coached by Gino Warma. I don’t think it’s easy. I think he coaches them hard, but I don’t know a competitive athlete who wouldn’t want to maximize their abilities, even if it means you’re uncomfortable at times. When you go back to the early days at Connecticut before Gamble Pavilion, they were playing inside a building on campus where you had the track team running around the outside during practice. The volleyball team, the wrestlers were all in there at the same time. It was also a time at which, you know, Chris Dailyaly could be seen setting up chairs and bleachers and doing all kinds of things for the program. She and Gino actually shared one phone in a very small office. They called it a cubiclesized office. How far they have come since then. Underway here in the fourth quarter. Boy, they have they have made so often tonight that breaking that pressure look easy. Just getting the ball over the top, getting themselves into numbered situations. It’s been limited windows of effectiveness for for Syracuse in terms of their pressure. deviate during the tournament as Stewart is fouled on the drive. They’ve been averaging turning over opponents 20 times a game and scoring 20 points off of those turnovers. It’s been a much different case so far today. Rebecca Lobo was talking about Connecticut is beating Quinton Hillsman’s team at their own game, offensive boards, three-point territory, and with their defense. [Applause] There’s been so much discussion, Beth, about where Brianna Stewart sits in the great history and lineage, not only of Yukon, but of best players in the country. And I would say she will walk away as the highest achieving player in women’s college basketball history. You look at what she has done, yet another national championship. Three time first team AP all-American, first one, a twotime weight trophy winner. So for me, she’s the highest achieving player. Beth, I would say I have to keep Diana Terrasi at the top of the list. A very one sort of circumstance and maybe an equal one. And here’s why. As you see Syracuse operating under duress, it’s Stewie boards it again. And they sure they’re going to get her for a travel. The the difference for for Brianna is she has had this year and last Morgan Tuck and and Mariah Jefferson, two of the best players in the country playing alongside her. When Diana won titles in 03 and 04, no disrespect to the role players around her, but that’s exactly what they were, role players. It was it was Diana Terz’s brilliance and Gino’s brilliance. And if fate had not stepped in and Fetlana Agorosamova and Shay Ralph get hurt her freshman year, they could have played for four. And Gino talks all the time about fate and what role that plays when you’re winning championships. And I I have the utmost respect for coach Oriana and Brianna Stewart because you know what Brianna Stewart entered in as? Brianna Stewart entered into college basketball as an unsure, uncertain, sort of shy kid and she is walking out a woman death. at one who is the most dangerous basketball player in college basketball history. So don’t tell me there’s not value in college athletics. There’s value in it. Cuz when you can compete at the highest level athletically and do it on the academic side, which Yukon players consistently do, you can’t ask for a better foundation. And I’m not talking about basketball success. I’m talking about life success. It has been a remarkable run for her and these seniors. And when you you think of all the greats over the years back in the early days, Carrie Baskam, and then to Lobo and Rosati and Walters winning that first championship, the four players that were all drafted in the first five picks in that 2002 draft. Gino has talked about how Stewie will live amongst those giants of Yukon basketball. And then there’s also a little twinge of gosh, I’m going to miss this kid. His his phrase was there is not another transcendent player like her coming around. And so while they depart the Yukon campus, you start to look towards who’s got next for Connecticut. They have four players we’re watching here tonight. Perhaps five that could be in the starting lineup next year for Connecticut, including Katie L. Samuelson who was out of his championship game with a broken foot. I’m amazed at the growth of both Nisa Collier and Gabby Williams this year. Talking about two kids who didn’t look prepared when they were playing the big time opponents early in the year and their growth in such a short period of time is a tribute to the staff. And make no mistake how important Chris Daly is and and Shay Ralph and Marissa Mosley are to the success of this program. You don’t do much on your own. You need great people around you. High character people. Oh, by the way, they also have the prep national player of the year. One of them anyways, Crystal Dangerfield coming in to run the point as Mariah Jefferson departs. And Dangerfield is a recruit out of Tennessee. [Applause] Shot clock winding down. Morgan Tuck. Fouled on the shot by Butler. [Music] That’s the third on Butler. The Stewart triple double watch by the way right now. 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Here’s Hie Ro, who as you’re talking about is Brianna Stewart, one of the greatest to ever play at Yukon. You know, Gina Orama has a great quote about her. He said that rip your heart out mentality doesn’t come naturally to her. We’ve had to help her. She’s such a nice kid, such a great expression, a fun expression on her face all the time. But come March, she has a look in her eye, and she has ripped opponents hearts out in March, every single year of her career. So, even though she does it in such a kind, friendly way, make no mistake, she’s ripping it out, Doris. Yeah. You know what, Holly? I like Gino’s line about her. He said Stewie pretends like she’s humble and nice and kind and would rescue cats from trees. That’s the impression she wants to give you, but she is a competitor at heart. Uh, and I like what Jim Beaheim said about her. Uh, and Shannon Spake was nice enough to ask the question for us and and he talked about what a physically gifted kid, but more importantly, what a tremendously nice kid Brianna Stewart is, but no Husky’s going to help any cats out of trees anytime soon as she winds down her career. There was a nice moment during the starting lineups tonight when she looked at the coaching staff. She was the last one to be introduced. And in the darkness of the arena, you could still pick up her smiling and looking at the coaches saying, “Last time.” And they announced her name and out she came. And they they make this look easy. And I know people have taken that as an opportunity to take pot shots at the women women’s game. I think it’s disrespectful. They make it look easy because there’s a level of expectation placed on this program every single day. Dad, react a little bit. Your girl is flat balling right now. 2110 and six for Stewart [Music] on her final night in a Yukon jersey. Sykes will try for three. That won’t go. Scrap for the loose ball. Break away from Jefferson. Just out of a reach and out of bounds. Let’s see if we can catch her Stewie during the intros. And look at the smile starting to form. My last one. She doesn’t look nervous there, Beth. She looks prepared to meet the moment, doesn’t she? I would guess that once you are into the championship game, there’s a load off and now let’s just go out and play and have fun one more time. How many times do you see in sports though where a streak is at stake or somebody’s going for a backtoback and sometimes the pressure, you feel it. This is a group and a and a program that seems to wear so gracefully the chase for titles. It’s not easy. Morrison hits mid-range. Timeout orange. 509 to go for the national championship. Back to Indie in a moment. Back here at the National Championship game in Indianapolis amongst the dignitaries. The NBA commissioner is with us, Adam Silver. Of course, the WNBA draft is coming up and according to Rebecca Lobo, here’s what she thinks those top five are going to look like. That draft will be one week from this Thursday. Brianna Stewart, of course, has been the prohibited favorite to be the top pick. Mariah Jefferson moving up the draft board. San Antonio has pick number two. Daniel Robinson an injury. And again, three of the top players in the WNBA draft. And how about those three players on Rebecca’s draft board? They’ve got 51 of the 71 points. So they are outscoring the Syracuse team by a deuce. [Applause] Syracuse continues to fight. They force the turnover. Catch the Frozen for second semi-final from Tampa as Denver and North Dakota face off Thursday at 8:30 Eastern on ESPN 2 and watch ESPN. Visit nca.com, the home for all 90 NCAA championships. You’re just rubbing it in with the promos. Friars will be back, DB. It may not go in Syracuse’s favor here tonight, but let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture here that while Connecticut has continued its dominant run. Three first timers that had never been to the final four were here this weekend in Syracuse, Washington, and Oregon State. We have seen a lot of parody around the country and the message certainly for the number four seed to get here for the first time. Hey, there’s got to be a lot of other programs out there saying we can be the team to do it next year. I I have so enjoyed spending time with Clinton Hillsman and the Syracuse kids. Oh boy, Alexis Peterson. [Applause] Holy Peterson wincing as she reaches for the shoulder. It was a held ball situation. And you know when those occur, everybody’s trying to yank that ball in their direction. The athletic trainers are out to check on her. number one in orange there. Oh, and gets the arm caught underneath. Kia nurse. Such a key cog in their postseason run. The play of Alexis Peterson and as well as Britney Sykes and Butler. This back court for Syracuse has been fantastic. This kid’s going to be at the top of everybody’s best point guards in the country next year. She has been I know it’s been a little bit of a struggle to see the Syracuse crowd responding. That kid is tough as nails and can play. [Music] A tough moment for her in what has otherwise been a fantastic NCAA tournament. You know, in the 30 years prior at Syracuse, they had two tournament wins. And this year, five of them to go deeper than they’d ever been before. [Music] Jefferson around offensive rebound and the put back for Gabby Williams. That’s one of those players coming back and she’s improving with every repetition. Gabby Williams, I I just I cannot and and and Holly gave the reporter at the start of the show where Gabby told her a year ago at this time, I was swimming. I was lost. What a transformation for Gabby Williams. This just her 11th start and the first in a while since Katie Lou Samuelson took over the job mid-season and then Katie Lou got hurt on Sunday in the semis. Williams herself has had to overcome an ACL injury over the course of her career. And here she is sticking the mid-range. She makes that and then in a year from now expands out to the three-point line. She’s going to have a difficult time checking this kid. Nine points for Williams tonight getting the start. Fondan there with the pull up. Cornelia Fondrin with 16 [Applause] in a bright spot for Syracuse tonight. But the countdown now starts to begin. Under three and a half minutes to go. Holly, good news on Alexis Peterson. That right shoulder has been put back in place. She can return to the game. It is good news indeed for Syracuse. Stewart off the miss. Morrison whistle a foul as Stewart will help up her old buddy Sykes. I like that those two continue to text this week. You know, you’re playing a competitive game as you see Peterson on the sideline, but the fact that those two competitors remain good friends and don’t let uh a national championship standing between them influence at all their friendship. You could compete there. There were a lot of conflicted allegiances in Central New York tonight with the hometown team and Steuart the hometown kid and Brianna so gracious that it’s so cool not only to be here myself in a national championship game with my team but to see the orange jerseys on the other side is amazing for that program as well. She said it feels in fact like things have come full circle. She’s already the first player in history to be named the most outstanding player three straight times. She said it when she came here. I want to win four titles in as quiet and humble as passion as you can make that kind of statement. The ability to play through contact, one of the major areas of improvement for her. And so 238 away from that fourth title and perhaps four most outstanding players. Can you put your arms around that Beth? 24 points, 10 rebounds, six assists. I’d say she is on her way, Doris, to getting that fourth, and to go 24-0 in your NCAA tournament career. You end every season on a winning note. And oh, by the way, then get ready to go try out for the US Olympic team and probably go to Rio and play for gold. Yeah, I I have a hard time thinking that at her level right now they’re they’re going to be able to keep her off the team. And I I I say that with all respect because to make that kind of statement that I want to come and win for and to do it without sort of repeating it and and tapping your own chest and tooting your own horn, it’s never what been what she’s about. You just simply said when asked, “This is what I would like to do.” And has quietly gone about her business. How about her postgame comment to Holly Row after the semis said, “We’re going to come back on Tuesday night and we’re going to win it.” The guarantee. And then the next day when we talked to her, she followed up and said, “I I took a little heat for that, but why why wouldn’t I say we’re going to win? That’s our intent. We’re not coming back to lose on Tuesday night.” Stepped it up at the right time as Tuck now with 19 approaching two minutes to go. for a fourth consecutive championship and the 11th for the Yukon program. And there are some substitutions now. Three of them coming to the scorers table to get ready to check in. Will all the seniors come out here together? Timeout Connecticut just for substitutions. And here they go. Heat. Heat. Four years, four national championships for Stewart, Jefferson, and Tuck. [Applause] Williams goes to the left hand. How you’re a shot clock violation. Not just a group home for the Lakers. Doris, it’s the parents as well. Been together for four years doing a lot of traveling to games to watch their daughters play. There’s your cover shot right there. [Applause] And congratulations to that group of Orange seniors as well. Morrison, Fondrin, Butler, perhaps Britney Sykes in her final game and Taylor Ford, the best season in Syracuse history. Congratulations to the Syracuse seniors in a wonderful run and putting this program in the national consciousness. And congratulations to the Connecticut Husky senior class who have won at an extraordinary level, but they have done it with class and dignity and they’ve played the game the right way. That’s the scene in Gamble Pavilion and they’ve stored the court to get a closer look at the big screen. Number two in white with the ball right here by the way is the other senior who’s been at Connecticut for three years with the team. Brianna Pledo who will go out celebrating another title as well and then be on her way to med school. The youngster they talked about in the pregame show who responded to a Brianna Stewart tweet to walk on and join the team. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Shot clock is now off for Yukon. Trying to get a shot for Pledo. Here she goes. And she’s got it. There’s the capper for the former walk-on senior. 11th title in program history and the fourth in a row. The National Championship goes to Connecticut for the fourth year in a row as the Dynasty fulfills its destiny. [Music] A historic moment as a senior class wins a fourth championship in tomorrow for the first time in college basketball, men’s or women’s history. As we take a look at tonight’s Capital One Cup performance with Brianna Stewart, this is the highest achieving collegen player in history. Brianna Stewart, the baddest woman in the Connecticut jersey doing it in every phase of the game, the mid-range, the long range as a shot blocker from three-point territory. In the biggest moments on the game’s biggest stage, this kid has delivered over and over and over again. Beth, how about to the tune of 24 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three of her four championship games, she has scored over 20. And Brianna now with Holly Ro. But Brianna, when you came in as a freshman, you said maybe I’ll win four national championships. But to say that and to accomplish that, what does it feel like tonight now? Oh, it’s unbelievable. You know, that was our goal coming in here once we were freshman and, you know, to carry it out when like this is seniors. It’s unbelievable. Your seniors did it in a big way. All three of you performed at your highest level tonight. What is it like to go out with like that at your very best version of yourself? We’re going out with a bang. We’re going out with a bang. That’s it. No more. We do what we’re supposed to do. Your parents were up in the stands as the three seniors came out and they were hugging each other. Your parents are all up in the stands hugging each other. What has this journey been like for all of you? Um, you know, I created two best friends coming into college and so did our parents. They’re all best friends with each other and you know, we’re going through the same stuff together. All right, we’ll see you back up on the podium in just a moment, young lady. Okay.

Watch the full game replay of UConn women’s basketball vs. Syracuse in the 2016 NCAA national championship game. With the win, Breanna Stewart and the Huskies’ senior class completed a historic four-peat.

Watch highlights, game recaps and much more from the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments on the official NCAA March Madness YouTube channel. Subscribe now to be updated on the latest videos: https://www.youtube.com/marchmadness