Undefeated Huskies Dominate Syracuse in NCAA Tournament
The University of Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball team maintained their undefeated streak after a significant victory over the Syracuse Orange, winning 98-45 in the second round of the NCAA March Madness Tournament. This match unfolded on Monday night at Gampel Pavilion.
This loss marked the third consecutive season in which Syracuse’s journey ended at the hands of UConn. Syracuse head coach Felisha Leggett-Jacques expressed her frustration in a press conference following the game.
After Quentin Hillsman’s departure and before Leggett-Jacques took the helm, Syracuse faced UConn in the 2021 tournament, suffering an 83-47 defeat. Fast forward to 2024, and once again, Leggett-Jacques, now in charge, found her team on the losing end, this time with a score of 72-64.
Leggett-Jacques felt her team deserved a better seeding after a solid 24-8 season last year. However, the selection committee positioned her team to potentially confront UConn on their home court if both teams progressed past the first round.
The game, though, turned out to be a rout. At one point, UConn achieved an astonishing 31-0 run in the first half, heading into halftime with a 65-12 lead. Coach Geno Auriemma then allowed his team to ease up for the remainder of the game.
Leggett-Jacques didn’t hold back in her comments, addressing the challenges her team faces in the tournament.
“We have to face the best teams in the nation. Geno’s pushing this effort, which I appreciate. But we deserve more respect after 37 years in this industry. It’s frustrating to be placed in the same position every year,” she remarked.
She voiced concerns about possible bias from the selection committee stemming from a previous loss to UConn when she was the head coach at Buffalo in the 2019 tournament.
“If you’ve served on the committee for an extended period, you know how things operate. I’ve been part of it and understand what it takes to get teams ranked differently. We shouldn’t keep being sent to Connecticut annually; it feels like a personal affront,” she added.
Leggett-Jacques concluded by emphasizing her belief that Syracuse has much more to offer than what they displayed in the recent game.
This scenario highlights the challenges within women’s basketball, raising questions about visibility and respect in the sport.
