Big Red women's record-breaking season ends with loss to UConn, 47-89
By Anne Ju
Jeomi Maduka is swarmed by University of Connecticut players, March 23, in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.
From left: Volunteer assistant coach Faye Young Miller, Jeomi Maduka, assistant coach Dale Parker, Gretchen Gregg, Lauren Benson and Allie Fedorowicz cheer on the team.
The pep band and Big Red bear made the trip to Connecticut to cheer on the team.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- They started off with a strong defensive effort, but the Big Red women's basketball team could not stave off the mighty University of Connecticut Huskies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, March 23, at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
The Big Red fell to the Huskies, 47-89, in a matchup that players and coaches knew from the start would be a challenge. With the loss, the Ivy League champions ended their impressive and historic season with a record of 20-9.
"I'm extremely proud of our team," said head coach Dayna Smith following the game. "I'm extremely proud of the way we came out not scared, unintimidated, and playing with a little bit of aggressiveness."
In the first four minutes of the game, Cornell held UConn to just three for 11 field goals. But at the close of the first half, the Big Red was down 30 points, 23-53. Throughout the rest of the game, the Huskies ran roughshod around the Big Red, with the powerful freshman forward Maya Moore leading the UConn offense with 17 points.
The mismatch in size and speed showed in Cornell's inability to make high-percentage shots under the rim. The Big Red's high scorers were sophomore guard Allie Fedorowicz and senior guard Gretchen Gregg, who each chipped in eight points. Junior forward Jeomi Maduka, the Ivy League Player of the Year, had a game-high nine rebounds, tying with UConn senior forward Charde Houston.
It probably didn't help that fan presence was overwhelmingly for the Huskies – expectedly so, given the proximity of the game to the UConn home court of Storrs, Conn.
Still, there was plenty of red to be seen around the arena. The Big Red Band made the trip to Bridgeport, helping lead the cheers, as the Big Red Bear waved a red-and-white pom-pom.
The vocal Big Red fans supported the team from start to finish.
A small but enthusiastic red-clad Cornell fan contingent also made its presence known throughout the evening, sitting in one of the lower sections and cheering faithfully for the Big Red. They kept a positive spirit, even as the point deficit grew wider.
When senior forward Megan Hughes hit a three-pointer in the final minute of the game, the Cornell bench cheered as though it was a buzzer beater. It was her first made three-pointer of her career.
The Big Red earned a spot in the tournament by finishing their season in a three-way tie (11-3) with Harvard and Dartmouth for first place in the Ivy League, then winning a mini-playoff for the tournament berth. It was the first championship in the Cornell program's nearly 40-year history.
Getting to play in the NCAA tournament was "a great way to end the season," said senior forward Moina Snyder.
"It was a great way to make a statement for the future of the program," she said.
As they left the court after the last buzzer sounded, the team paused to face the section of Cornell fans, thanking them with smiles and applause -- all of it reciprocated.
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