FINAL FOUR! Duke Advances Past UConn In Overtime, 63-61

Tuesday, March 28

Bridgeport, Conn.

9 p.m.

Duke University

UConn

FINAL FOUR! Duke Advances Past UConn In Overtime, 63-61

3/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Duke Sports Information

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Duke advanced to its third Final Four in five years and fourth overall as it defeated eighth-ranked and second-seeded Connecticut (32-5) 63-61 in overtime to win the Bridgeport Regional Championship in the 2006 NCAA Tournament Tuesday here at the Bridgeport Arena.

With the win, the top-seeded and fourth-ranked Blue Devils (30-3) will play LSU in Boston on Sunday in the Final Four and also notched their sixth consecutive 30-win season.

Alison Bales led the way for Duke en route to earning MVP honors for the Bridgeport Region with 15 points while Monique Currie added 14 and Abby Waner came up with 10 points off the bench for the Blue Devils. Waner was also named to the All-Tournament team for the region while Currie hit 7-of-10 from the free throw line, including all four of her free throws in overtime, and added nine rebounds for the Blue Devils.

Bales was the dominating force in the paint on both ends of the court. She added 13 rebounds an NCAA Tournament record eight blocks to go with her 15 points in a 35-minute effort. Bales and Currie combined to score 15 of Duke's last 19 points in regulation and overtime. Bales also became the NCAA Tournament's all-time leading shot blocker with 42 while her 21 blocks in this tournament is the second most for a single tournament in NCAA history, just one away from the record.

Duke shot a season low 28.6 percent, scored a season low 63 points and was held 24 points under it's season average even with the five extra minutes but its subperb defense allowed the Blue Devils to hang on for its first Final Four appearance since 2003. Duke also advanced to the Final Four in 1999 and 2002.

"That was the most beautiful ugly win we've ever had. We're just elated to be going back to the Final Four," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said.

Barbara Turner led the way for Connecticut despite coming in and out of the game down the stretch with cramps. Turner finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes of action.

Duke fell behind out of the gate and found themselves down 7-2 at the first media timeout four minutes into the game and 9-3 just over five minutes in before they responded. Chante Black hit a layup and Currie and Waner both hit three-pointers, Waner's giving Duke its first lead at 11-9 with 12:45 remaining in the first half.

Connecticut tied the game at 13 behind field goals from Ann Strother and Turner but Duke didn't give up the lead again in the first half and held a 31-26 advantage at the break. Bales led Duke with eight points, six rebounds and four blocks in the first half while Mistie Williams and Black each had six points at the break.

The Huskies opened up the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 35-31 lead and then the two teams traded a pair of buckets as UConn held a 39-35 lead four minutes into the second half. Neither team scored for the next 3:30 and UConn held its big lead at six, 41-35 with 12:28 remaining. Waner's second three-pointer cut the lead in half and then her baseline jumper half way through the second half pulled Duke within one at 41-40.

Currie then took over for a short stretch, scoring four straight to give Duke a three point lead at 44-41 to cap a 9-0 run for Duke beore the Huskies went on a six point run of their own to give them a 47-44 lead. The game was then tied at 48-48, 50-50, 53-53 and finally at 55-55 at the end of regulation.

Lindsey Harding scored six in the second half and finished with a team-high four assists. Bales, Currie, Harding and Waner scored 30 of Duke's 32 points in the second half and overtime.

Williams hit a layup on a nice feed from Currie to open the overtime and the game's seventh and final tie came at 57-57 less than a minute into overtime. Bales hit a pair of free throws and Currie went 4-of-4 from the line to put Duke up 63-58 half way through the extra five minute period. Wilnett Crockett cut the lead to three with two minues left and then hit 1-of-2 from the line with 45 seconds left to cut the lead to two for the Huskies. Charde Houston missed a baseline jumper and Currie grabbed the rebound as time expired to clinch the Blue Devil victory.

Duke will now face LSU in the Final Four in Boston on Sunday.