After Georgetown’s takedown of Creighton last night in the BIG EAST Tournament, I wasn’t sure what to expect. With the Huskies again playing without Aaliyah Edwards, would Ice Brady step up once more? There was a lot of fire in the air at Mohegan Sun Monday night, but Ice didn’t melt. In fact, Brady exceeded last night’s points by three, added three more rebounds, and once again played the entire 40 minutes.
UConn opened the game on an 11-0 run until Graceann Bennett finally made a layup for the Hoyas. But Georgetown would only add another 9 points and ended the quarter trailing UConn 28-11. In the second quarter, UConn added 8 points to their lead when Mya Bembry made a layup. Georgetown then started to find something of a groove, and UConn lost some of its sharpness. Each team was playing better defense, but Georgetown went on a 10-0 run until Ashlynn Shade hit a three.
The quarter ended with UConn adding five points to their lead, making it 47-25. In the third quarter both teams slowed down, and neither shot particularly well. They basically paced each other, and UConn outscored Georgetown 11-10. Then came the fourth quarter, and UConn stepped on the gas. Bembry scored the first bucket of the quarter, a jumper.
Bueckers and Company took care of Georgetown in the BIG EAST Tournament final
That shot was answered by a Paige Bueckers jumper at 8:45, and Georgetown would only score five more points for the rest of the game, with UConn taking the fourth 20-7, for a final score of 78-42. UConn hit 11-26 threes, while Georgetown made 2-17. The Huskies shot 15-18 from the charity stripe, while Georgetown hit 8-14. Georgetown turned the ball over 17 times, UConn 9 times. The Huskies scored 22 points off turnovers, and the Hoyas 11.
Even with a couple of lulls during the game, UConn never lost sight of what they needed to do. They showed that in the fourth quarter. The defense stepped up as well, and Georgetown just couldn’t overcome it. Every Husky scored, with Bueckers, Brady, Shade, and KK Arnold all in double figures. This was a game where every bucket counted. Only Graceann Bennett and Bembry hit double figures for Georgetown, each scoring 12. This was Georgetown’s first trip to the BIG EAST Tournament finals.
BIG EAST All-Tournament Team
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) March 12, 2024
– Nika Mühl
– Ice Brady pic.twitter.com/cZy2rvwmU0
I am sure it is going to give them a taste for more. The team has a tough spirit, and with a 22-11 record on the season and a very well-played BIG EAST Tournament, I think they will become an even more formidable team quite soon.
How successful UConn will be in the NCAAW Tournament remains to be seen. If Aaliyah Edwards comes back, which I think she will, they could be more of a presence than some might give them credit for. Both Edwards and Bueckers are equally in charge of this team, and there is a distinct feeling of solidarity that one gets watching them play. I would call myself an objective UConn fan, and mistakes do not escape me, nor do I gloss over them or make excuses. They certainly don’t need me to defend them.
This UConn squad has a different feel
There is just something very special about this team. Perhaps it is the history, Geno Auriemma’s presence, or the culture that they’ve built over the years. They are also one of maybe a handful of programs that really does prepare their athletes for the next level, be it the WNBA or overseas play. Simply put, UConn is a team with dignity. There are a number of other teams that I find to be dignified programs, and they are all unique.
Confetti Queens 👑 pic.twitter.com/nSKiNufL9h
— UConn Huskies (@UConnHuskies) March 12, 2024
There is just something about UConn’s brand of dignity that I find appealing, and that’s enough for me. While I’m not looking beyond the tournament to come, I can’t help but wonder what a fully healthy UConn roster will be capable of doing. There are a lot of potential points sitting on the bench, and even if Aaliyah Edwards decides not to return next year, the last two games have shown us a glimpse of what Ice Brady can do.
I also watched Jana El Alfy play in the U19 tournament where she got injured. Huskies fans will be pleasantly surprised. I liked what I saw. With Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin, Caroline Ducharme, Ayanna Patterson, and Amari DeBerry back, well, we shall see. For now, it is on to March Madness. But before that, I’ll be covering the MVC Tournament, which starts in a few days. See you then.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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