Baylor and UConn meet in the Elite Eight tonight
WACO, Texas (BVM) — It’s an Elite Eight matchup with more of a national championship feel. The No. 2-ranked Baylor Lady Bears will be taking on the top-ranked UConn Huskies later tonight. The Lady Bears will be trying to stop the Huskies from making their 13th-consecutive trip to the Final Four.
The two programs have combined to win 13 out of the last 20 national titles. It is a big game for both coaches and players.
“It means a great deal to get to an Elite Eight [game],” Baylor women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey said. “I don’t know [if] that it matters that it’s UConn, as much as it is that more important to our program that we’re in another Elite Eight. It’s two programs that are very proud.”
Tonight, the main focus will be on UConn freshman Paige Bueckers. The Big East Player of the Year is averaging 19.8 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds. She has taken the college basketball world by storm this year.
But there is another player that has been impressive in this tournament. Baylor guard NaLyssa Smith scored a game-high 24 points and hit all 11 of her field goal attempts to tie an NCAA Tournament record for the most made field goals without a miss in their overtime win against Michigan. She is also a Wade Trophy finalist and a first-team All-American selection.
“It’s crazy just to know [that] I played 40 minutes [against Michigan] and didn’t miss one shot,” Smith said in a press conference. “[That’s] a crazy number.”
It’s sure to be an exciting matchup between two of the top programs in college basketball.
Can’t wait!#SicEm | #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/UWDd3YBjf4
— Baylor Women's Basketball (@BaylorWBB) March 29, 2021
