Indiana will face its stiffest test yet with a return trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
The No. 3 seed Hoosiers are in Bridgeport, Conn. to face No. 2 UConn on Saturday in the regional semifinal. The tip is set for 2 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
The Hoosiers will face the 11-time national champions for the first time ever.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Geno (Auriemma) and his staff and players,” IU head coach Teri Moren said on Friday. “They’ve (UConn) been the bar for women’s basketball for some time. … We know the task. We know how big of a game this is.”
3-SEED INDIANA (24-8) VS. 2-SEED CONNETICUT (25-7)
Saturday, March 26, 2022 • 2 p.m. Eastern
Total Mortgage Arena • Bridgeport, Conn.
Broadcast: ESPN (Ryan Ruocco, Rebecaa Lobo, Andraya Carter, Holly Rowe)
Connecticut and legendary head coach Geno Auriemma advanced after wins over Mercer and UCF at its first and second round games in Storrs.
Senior guard Chrystin Williams averages 14.5 points per game for the Huskies, while sophomore guard Paige Bueckers adds 13.7 points in 13 appearances. The Huskies have won 12-straight headed into Saturday’s matchup which included Big East regular season and tournament titles.
Indiana advances to its second-consecutive Sweet Sixteen with a win over Princeton, 56-55, on Monday in Bloomington. Senior guard Grace Berger’s layup with 29 seconds to go was the go ahead while a steal from Ali Patberg and two Aleksa Gulbe free throws in the final seconds sealed the Hoosier win.
The victory on Monday helped match IU’s most wins in a single season with 24. The Hoosiers went 24-8 in the 2019-20 season as well.
Berger has paced Indiana through the first two games of the NCAA Tournament with 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while Mackenzie Holmes averages 14.5 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game.
Saturday’s winner advances to the Elite Eight and regional final game against the winner of top seed NC State and No. 5 seed Notre Dame on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. Eastern in Bridgeport.
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