The University of Connecticut Huskies defeated the Villanova Wildcats in the Championship game of the Big East Women’s Basketball Tournament on Monday night by a score of 67-56. The tournament, held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, was the tenth consecutive tournament title for UConn.
In addition to four UConn players scoring in double digits, the game was marked by UConn’s defensive efforts that included limiting the Wildcats’ star Maddy Siegrest to only 22 points, while only one other Villanova player scored in double digits. In Villanova’s semifinal win over Creighton, Siegrest scored 37 of the team’s 63 points.
Junior forward Aaliyah Edwards led UConn in scoring with a total of 19 points and led all players in rebounding with 15. Edwards was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and joined UConn forward Dorka Juhasz and UConn guard and forward Lou Lopez Senechal in being named to the All-Tournament team. Juhasz scored 16 points and pulled down 8 rebounds while Senechal scored 14 points
Sophomore guard Azzi Fudd, returning to action in the Big East Tournament after injuring her right knee twice this season, scored 11 points, including three, three point shots in the second half of the game.
In addition to Siegrist scoring 22 points for Villanova, guard Lucy Olsen contributed 14 points to the Wildcat’s total.
In a post-game press conference, UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma reflected on a difficult season that included dealing with numerous players with injuries as well as the passing of his mother Marciella in December. He commented that the win in the Big East Tournament reflected a chapter that has been closed and that the beginning of the NCAA Tournament next Sunday will start a new chapter for him and the team.
