Spring Break
Tougher than expected
Huskies absorb early run, defeat Cal to move on to Elite 8
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Sports
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But win No. 36 was by no means as easy as the score would suggest.
UConn scored the first basket of the game in eight seconds. After falling behind, it took 14:42 to regain the lead for the first time.
Unlike so many other games for the Huskies, the Golden Bears prevented the team from breaking away, effectively executing defense and leading for much of the first half. Renee Montgomery, who in games has often taken it upon herself to lead the team through struggles, was held to just five points and shot just 2-for-11 from the floor.
"The problems were that we were, we're more missing shots," Montgomery said. "We did get a few open shots in the beginning and we weren't knocking them down, so it was one and done. And then, we were shooting the ball off of one pass and we were trying to create our own shots and pretty much we were trying to make a 10-point comeback in one play. And it wasn't working."
In addition, Tina Charles got into early foul trouble, getting two in the first five minutes. She spent the rest of the first half watching from the bench.
"It's one of those things that, you know, you've got to remember…we've practiced all year and [head] Coach [Geno Auriemma] puts us in situations in practice where we're done, we have a disadvantage, or some sort of, you know, obstacle that we have to get by in a drill or something," said Maya Moore.
As a result, Kaili McLaren became one of the key elements to determining how the rest of the game would play out. Without her, the team could not have succeeded, Moore said.
With Montgomery's early struggles and Charles's absence in the post, Cal exploited the opportunity. The Golden Bears scored 21 of their 33 points either from the perimeter or at the free-throw line.
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