Fresno State Athletics
Regional Final Set For Monday Night
3/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 25, 2007
Fresno, Calif. - Traditional national power Connecticut faces off against a rising LSU team in the Regional Final Monday night in the Save Mart Center with a berth in the Final Four on the line. Tickets for the tilt are available at the Save Mart Center box office through Monday.
The coaching matchup involves a complete contrast in history, as women's coaching legend Geno Auriemma heads up No. 1 seed Connecticut, bringing along a 621-119 record and five national championships. On the other side, acting head coach Bob Starkey leads the LSU Lady Tigers, having compiled a perfect 3-0 record, winning all three postseason games that LSU has played since taking the job prior to the NCAA Tournament.
The two teams met once previously this year, with the Huskies taking a controversial 72-71 win as a last-second shot by the Lady Tigers was deemed a two-pointer, leaving LSU one point short of the tie. Both teams remember that struggle, but both teams know that this game will be very different. "I always sat that when you get to the NCAA tournament, if you play like you did in the regular season, you are going to lose," said Auriemma. "What we did last time isn't going to be good enough. We've got to improve if we want to beat them."
LSU brings their best weapon in center Sylvia Fowles. A 6-6 junior out of Miami, Fla., Fowles leads the Lady Tigers in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.1 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, and is the true leader of the LSU team. "We've got to be focused and take care of the ball," said Fowles. "I will do everything that I have to do to maintain leadership on my team." Starkey agreed, saying "She is the key player that we need to keep on the floor. She is not only tall, but wide with her arm span. She is very athletic, and we have to keep her out there as much as possible."
A number of storylines, contradictions and great plays will converge one more time at the Save Mart Center on Monday, as either UConn or LSU will punch their ticket to the Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio. Tickets for the 6 p.m. game are available through Monday at the Save Mart Center box office.
