Friday, March 30, 2001
UConn, Notre Dame hot new rivalry
Huskies, Irish battle for spot in championship
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — The more Connecticut and Notre Dame play each other, the more important the game becomes.
They first met in a regular-season game, then faced each other in the final of the Big East Conference tournament. Three weeks later, they're getting ready to play it again, this time with a berth in the national championship game at stake.
A new rivalry in women's basketball has been born.
“Us and Tennessee used to be Ali-Frazier,” Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said. “This is Ali-Foreman.”
Connecticut, the defending champion, plays Notre Dame tonight in the national semifinals. Both are 32-2. Both advanced as No.1 seeds. Both went 15-1 in the Big East. The winner advances to Sunday night's title game against Purdue or Southwest Missouri State.
This is Connecticut's fifth Final Four, and the Huskies usually run into Tennessee about now.
But Tennessee was knocked out by Xavier, leaving the Final Four to the new rivalry. Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw is just happy she can call it that. Before the Irish beat Connecticut 92-76 in South Bend on Jan.15, they had been 0-11 against the Huskies.
“This is the first year we actually have had a rivalry,” McGraw said. “Because I don't know you can have a rivalry until you beat somebody.”
Connecticut beat Notre Dame 78-76 in the second game on Sue Bird's shot at the buzzer.
“Obviously, it was hard to go out on that loss,” Notre Dame forward Kelley Siemon said. “But I think this is going to be just an incredible game. I expect it to be just like that. We both have something to prove, something we are shooting for.
“The Big East championship was a big deal, but obviously going to the national championship is even bigger.”
UConn's Svetlana Abrosimova, a first-team All-American last season, went down with a foot injury Feb.1 and hasn't played since.
In the Big East final, Shea Ralph blew out a knee and was finished for the season.
The Huskies won their first four NCAA tournament games by an average of 37.5 points and only one of those opponents scored more than 48.
Flashy freshman Diana Taurasi has become the new go-to player. She has been the Huskies' leading scorer (16.0) over the past seven games.
Notre Dame has a few weapons of its own, starting with center Ruth Riley, the national Player of the Year. Riley shoots 63 percent, averages 18.4 points and often looks like Bill Walton passing out of double teams.
Siemon knows how to get open and can shoot with either hand. Guard Alicia Ratay leads the nation in 3-point shooting percentage (.547) and Niele Ivey is a fearless penetrator who shoots 45 percent from behind the arc.
NCAA Tournament coverage at Cincinnati.com
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UConn, Notre Dame hot new rivalry