In a thrilling NCAA Tournament showdown, the UConn women’s basketball team faced off against Syracuse, with their record Sweet 16 streak hanging in the balance. The Orange made it a nail-biter, closing the gap to just two points with under two minutes left in their 2024 Second Round clash. Paige Bueckers answered with a clutch jumper, but Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair kept it close with a free throw.
As the clock ticked down to just over 30 seconds, UConn crafted a play likely intended for Bueckers. However, with Syracuse's defense zeroing in, Bueckers dished it to a wide-open freshman, Arnold, on the left wing. Arnold's three-point attempt danced off the rim, kissed the backboard, and swished through the net, sealing the victory and extending UConn's storied NCAA Tournament streak.
Reflecting on Arnold’s game-winning shot, teammate Shade said, “I was probably like mouth open, hands up, just like, jumping up and down.”
Fast forward two years, and the stage is set for a rematch in this year’s NCAA Tournament Second Round in Storrs. The stakes are high, with the winner advancing to face No.
4 UNC in the Sweet 16. UConn’s remarkable streak of 31 consecutive Sweet 16 appearances is once again on the line.
“They're a little bit different than they were two years ago. We're a little bit different than we were two years ago,” remarked UConn coach Geno Auriemma.
“But our style of play is the same. Theirs is not that different; ours is not that much different.
… Yeah, it's not an easy one tomorrow.”
Only Shade and Arnold remain from that 2024 matchup for the Huskies, with Ice Brady sidelined due to injury. The Orange's lone returning player from that game, junior guard Sophia Burrows, recalls the intensity vividly.
Burrows, who lit up the court with six three-pointers and 18 points back then, said, “I definitely remember just the atmosphere. I'd never played with that big of a crowd or anything like that.”
Both teams have shown their mettle leading up to this clash. UConn cruised past No.
16 UTSA, while Syracuse’s Olivia Schmitt delivered an unexpected performance against No. 8 Iowa State, sinking five three-pointers to propel her team to victory.
Monday’s matchup is a fresh slate, with past games forgotten. Syracuse boasts impressive rebounding stats, ranking No. 11 nationally in total rebounds and No. 7 in offensive boards. Meanwhile, UConn excels in field goal percentage and scoring defense, holding opponents to a mere 50.4 points per game.
Historically, UConn has dominated Syracuse in NCAA Tournament meetings, including their 2016 national championship clash. Yet, as Arnold and Schmitt have shown, March Madness is the stage where anyone can rise to the occasion.
“This is what happens in the NCAA Tournament,” Auriemma said. “People come out of nowhere, and they do things that are, you know, memorable.”
As the Huskies and Orange prepare to face off, fans can expect another unforgettable chapter in their storied rivalry.