By: Cassandra Gallion, Eagle News Service US, New York Bureau
Second seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs shocked the nation Friday night by defeating top ranked and defending champion UCONN Huskies 66-64 on a surprised buzzer beating shot by Morgan William in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Semifinals in Dallas. The loss snapped UCONN’s record breaking 111th winning streak and the chance to win their fifth straight national championship.
Tied at 60 at the end of regulation, the two teams remained neck and neck as they fought in overtime until Williams, at 5’5 and the shortest player on the Bulldogs team pulled the biggest upset of the tournament, nailing a 15-foot jumper over Gabby Williams as time expired to advance to their first championship final in school history.
Mississippi State led UCONN by as many as 16 points and set the tempo of the game early. The two teams entered halftime with Mississippi State up by 8 points.
Leading Mississippi State Bulldogs was Victoria Vivians with 19 points, 4 rebounds. For UCONN Huskies, Gabby Williams with 21 points, 8 rebounds.
Throughout the game, UCONN struggled to take a lead, allowing confidence to build by the Bulldogs.
Just a year ago, the Huskies defeated the bulldogs in the Sweet 16 by 60 points, making history as the biggest win deficit in NCAA history. Tonight, redemption was made.
William when asked she, the shortest player on the court pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, replied, “I live for moments like this.”
Mississippi State faced South Carolina in Sunday night’s championship game where they lost to their Southeastern Conference (SEC) rival 67-55.