SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The NCAA women’s basketball championship game will not include top-ranked Connecticut.
Aari McDonald poured in 26 points and third seed Arizona reached the title game for the first time by stifling the Huskies, 69-59. The Wildcats held UConn to 36% shooting overall and allowed just 22 first-half points.
Arizona held UConn to a season low in points, but still had to hold after leading by 14 late in the third quarter
Sam Thomas finished with 12 points and Cate Reese had 11 for Arizona.
UConn was led by Christyn Williams with 20 points, while Paige Bueckers had 18.
Arizona will Stanford on Sunday in an all-Pac-12 matchup.
Haley Jones scored 24 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 32 seconds left to lead the Cardinal to a 66-65 win over South Carolina at the Alamodome. The win puts Stanford in the title game for the first time since 2010, which also was in San Antonio.
Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer will be looking for her third national championship at the school and first since 1992.
