A look at the two Final Four
semis:
Baylor 68 Louisiana State
57
The story
line: Baylor came back from a 15-point deficit to beat the
#1 team in the tournament.
The
princess: Baylor forward Sophia Young with 21 points, 10
rebounds and 6 assists.
The
stepsister: LSU point guard Temeka Johnson, acclaimed the
best point guard in the NCAA, repeatedly and unsuccessfully
tried to force her way inside against Baylor defense. With a
six-point deficit and 45 seconds on the clock, Johnson could
have tried a 3 to cut the lead in half or an easy lay-up;
instead she tried a long 2 – and missed.
The game
play: Emily Niemann tied the game just before the break,
completing a 19-4 Baylor run.
Stat: Only
four players scored for LSU the entire game. Only 3 LSU
players scored in the second half.
Off-court
story: Abiola Wabara was raised in Italy by Nigerian
parents. She played with USC and Houston Comets star Cynthia
Cooper in Italy before the founding of the WNBA, when
international leagues were the only pro option for U.S.
women.
Quote: “Do
you know how far down you were and how you had to fight?
Guys, you are playing for the national championship!” –
Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson
Michigan State 68 Tennessee
64
The story
line: MSU equaled the largest comeback in women’s NCAA
history (16 points) to topple the heavily favored Lady
Vols.
The
princess: Victoria Lance-Perry, whose two consecutive
3-pointers cut the lead to 1 with 4:48 left.
The
stepsister: With the game tied and 50 seconds left,
Tennessee center Tye’sha Fluker flopped in hopes of getting
a charging call. Instead, Kelli Roehrig, who had blown a
wide-open lay-up minutes before, this time made the shot and
MSU had its first lead of the game.
The game
play: Lance-Perry’s two free throws tied the game for the
first time with 1:20 left, and Tennessee never led again.
Stat:
Tennessee has played in every Sweet Sixteen’s since the
women’s tournament began and have played in 16 Final Four’s.
Michigan State, under a rookie head coach, was playing in
its first Final Four.
Off-court
story: MSU guard Kristin Haynie was diagnosed with cancer at
age 11 and had to have her colon removed. She suffered
fatigue her first three years in college, which was
determined to be the result of her body’s inability to
absorb nutrients. She now has to consume 3,500-4,000
calories daily to keep going.
Quote:
“You’ve got to be kidding!” – ESPN’s Mike Patrick on
Michigan State’s comeback victory. |
