Women's NCAA tournament - Bueckers, Shade boost UConn to 30th straight Sweet 16

Ros Gold-Onwude, Isis Young & Cassandra Negley react to Monday night’s second round battle that featured another big performance from the Huskies teammates.

Video Transcript

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Number-three-seed UConn is on to the Sweet 16, after beating number-six-seed Syracuse, 72 to 64. And UConn seemed to control most of the game, but then, at the end of the fourth quarter, it was like Syracuse was making a push, and it felt like too little too late, and probably too much Paige Bueckers.

ISIS YOUNG: Mm!

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Ice Paige dissected Syracuse's zone for 32 points. She also added 11 rebounds, six assists, and four steals. How did she keep steadying UConn over the course of the game?

ISIS YOUNG: Yeah, I'm thoroughly impressed with Paige, and I felt like I'm not sure, how could we be more impressed with Paige? Like, the way in which she controlled the game offensively for them, but also defensively, I mean, she's had to do a ton, and the fact that they've went through so many injuries, and then she's had to lead freshmen.

But I think two things really stood out to me. One, her assist to KK Arnold for the 3 towards the end of the game, that really felt like the dagger. The level of trust she showed in her freshman to knock down that big shot. And then, once Nika Mühl fouled out with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, it was Paige Bueckers that was guarding Dyaisha Fair, and I honestly think that was the difference in those last minutes of that push.

I think Paige deserves a ton of the credit for, one, scoring how she did, but also defending how she did. I'm just thoroughly impressed with what she showed us.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: That's kind of the story of the season for Paige, with all of the injuries. She's had to stay really flexible, play multiple positions over the court, be whatever the team needs, and she showed great decision making and poise, to your point.

And one of the other players that stepped up with her is Freshman of the Year for the Big East in Ashlynn Shade. Cass, I know you wanted to point out just how great she was against Syracuse's zone, knocking down that corner 3, busting them up. She had 19 points in this game. Don't forget, in the first round, she had 26 points. So how about this freshman, shining bright on this huge stage?

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: Yeah, the last few days, when we talked about this game, we said that the X factor was going to be who was gonna step up around Paige and Aaliyah because those two are the go-tos. Aaliyah didn't have the greatest offensive game, and it was Ashlynn Shade. She hit some huge corner 3's, as you said, you know, poured in the points, 7 of 12, 5 of 9 on 3-pointers.

And you had mentioned KK Arnold's late 3 there. That's another freshman starter who really stepped up in the big moments, and that's what you need, especially for a team that's running on a short bench.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Yeah, those freshmen were incredible. I'll tell you what who else was incredible. Let's look to the other side for Syracuse. We did see records broken tonight. Despite shooting 6 for 22, Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair dropped 20 points, and that moved her up two positions on the all-time NCAA scoring list, passing both Jackie Stiles and Kelsey Mitchell, and now she stands at third all time.

Her historic college career ended today now with this loss. Ice, I know you're a Syracuse alum. You have a special appreciation. Any hoop head should have an appreciation. But how should she be remembered as a collegiate player?

ISIS YOUNG: I think as one of the best scorers we've seen all time. I mean, when you finish third all time behind the names that you just gave, Jackie Stiles, I mean, Kelsey Mitchell, these are buckets that we're talking about.

I think most impressive for me, really, is Dyaisha Fair, her personality. I mean, she is a quiet, humble person. Doesn't talk a lot, not the biggest personality, but on the court, though, she's completely different, takes over.

I think, just from a Syracuse standpoint, I've thoroughly enjoyed bringing her into the family, and I've thoroughly enjoyed what Coach Felisha Legette-Jack has done with her. I think we talk all the time on broadcasts and behind closed doors about just their relationship, and that mother-daughter relationship, and you love to see it, that Coach Legette-Jack was at Buffalo, Dyaisha Fair followed her to Syracuse, like, that trust, that love, that commitment, and they built a beautiful story together.

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: You know, Coach Jack, when I spoke to her a few weeks ago, as you said, I asked her, you've been asked this 1,000 times, but what makes Dyaisha Fair so good. She said, her humility.

And I think, also, if we're talking about Dyaisha Fair, you know, a lot of people are gonna say, well, she did it in five years, instead of four, but her games played are about on par with some other players, because Buffalo did not make deep tournament runs.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Oh, that's an interesting point. And, certainly, to your point about character, I think that absolutely translates onto the court. But even in the face of Dyaisha's scoring prowess, UConn marches on to its 31st Sweet 16.