Diana Taurasi, a freshman who didn't even start until Connecticut lost its two returning All-Americans, dominated with her scoring and court savvy as the Huskies rolled into the women's semifinals again with a 67-48 victory over Louisiana Tech on Monday night.
This will be the Huskies' fifth trip to the Final Four under coach Geno Auriemma since 1991. They won national titles in 1995 and last season.
Taurasi, who combines the discipline that Auriemma demands with a sleek game polished on the Los Angeles playgrounds, had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as the second game of the season between the longtime women's powers turned into a romp.
"I don't know, I've never gotten nervous," said Taurasi, the nation's top high school player a year ago. "I'm just out there playing with four other girls, playing carefree.
"When I was growing up, I never played with girls -- they use to whine all the time -- so I'd just go to the playground and play with the guys."
Taurasi, who had 24 points in Saturday's 72-58 victory over North Carolina State, took over the game late in the first half, keying a half-ending 8-0 run with two driving layups and an assist on Tamika Williams' layup.
Then, after the Lady Techsters made their last run by cutting the lead to nine Taurasi hit consecutive long 3-pointers to help push the lead back to 17.
"She's really come out of her shell during this tournament and I love her for it because she's gotten us back to the Final Four," said teammate and McKeesport, Pa., native Swin Cash of Taurasi, who has started only a third of UConn's games yet was chosen as the outstanding player in the Big East tournament and the regional.
Tamika Williams added 18 points and 10 rebounds as the defending national champion Huskies (32-2) opened a 23-10 lead and never were pressed in beating the Lady Techsters (31-5) for the second time this season.
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published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
