Women’s championship game has familiar look

By MARY FOSTER / AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tennessee coach Pat Summitt spent a lot of time this week talking about parity in women’s basketball.

It made a lot of sense, what with LSU and Minnesota both making the women’s Final Four for the first time. But the championship game features an awfully familiar matchup — Summitt’s Lady Vols and Connecticut.

When Tennessee and Connecticut play for the title Tuesday night it will be the second straight year the title game has come down to these two traditional powers, and the fourth time since 1995.

Connecticut won the three previous title meetings with Tennessee, including a 73-68 victory last year in Atlanta.

Tennessee (31-3) advanced to its 11th NCAA championship game with a 52-50 victory over LSU. Connecticut (30-4) held off Minnesota and stayed on track to win a third straight NCAA title with a 67-58 victory.

Did someone say something about parity?

“There’s an expectation level that exists and there is no choice,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “You don’t congratulate yourself and have a parade for losing in the Sweet 16 or going to the final eight and, `Well, we’ll get them next year.’ So maybe that’s the kind of mentality that lets us play well at this time of the year.”

Tennessee and Connecticut may have a hard time topping the excitement of their semifinal wins.

LaToya Davis scored with 1.6 seconds left after LSU’s Temeka Johnson lost the ball in the backcourt to send the Lady Vols to their third straight close victory and a spot in the title game.

“I guess the way we feel is that we’re supposed to be here because we keep finding ways to win,” Ely said.

Minnesota was not intimidated by Connecticut.

The Golden Gophers may have held the lead for only 29 seconds, up 9-8 five minutes into the first half, but they weren’t out of it until Diana Taurasi knocked away Shannon Schonrock’s 3-point shot in the final moments.

The Huskies recovered the ball and Taurasi dribbled out the final seconds.

“For the most part I would think people would like someone else to be in the finals,” Taurasi said. “But as long as I’m wearing the Connecticut jersey I don’t care what people think.”

Connecticut’s victory keeps alive the possibility of the first basketball championship double for a school.

UConn will play Georgia Tech for the men’s title Monday night.