TAMPA, Fla. -- Maryland coach Brenda Frese wouldn't let a disappointing loss dampen a tremendous season for the Terrapins.
Like most other teams this season, Frese's squad couldn't find a way to hang with UConn for 40 minutes in an 81-58 loss on Sunday night in the Final Four.
It was the second straight season that Maryland fell short in the national semifinals.
"I'm proud of our fight," Frese said. "Like I told the team in the locker room, look at a season and go 34-3 and look two of the three losses coming from teams playing for the national championship. That's a heck of a season."
Maryland (34-3) went undefeated in its inaugural season in the Big Ten and won a school-record 28 straight games before the loss to UConn. The Terrapins also made it back to the Final Four for a second straight season.
"The next progression is where Notre Dame's gotten themselves to," Frese said. "That's the next step for us. Consistency factor was the key to getting back to back. I'm really excited when you talk about our future. We're graduating one senior and to have the sophomore class come back, I'm really excited."
Maryland's only loss to graduation will be Laurin Mincy, who had just three points against UConn.
"I'm speechless when I talk about Laurin," Frese said. "Everything she's contributed over the years. ... It's the last game for her and hurts my heart."
Mincy was proud of all she's done in her time at Maryland despite falling short.
"I'm disappointed," she said. "We wanted to come in here and shock the world and get this win. I'm proud of how my team competed this game and all season. I can't wait to see what's in store for them."
The Terrapins just had no answer for Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck. Stewart scored 25 points and Tuck added 24.
The Huskies are 9-0 in title games and a victory over the Irish would tie Auriemma with vaunted UCLA men's coach John Wooden for the most all-time with 10. It would also be the second three-peat for UConn, which won three straight championships from 2002-04. The last two titles came against Tennessee, marking the only other time that there was a repeat championship game in the history of the NCAA Tournament.
Making the Final Four seems like a rite of spring for the Huskies (37-1) lately as the team has appeared in the last eight national semifinals.
UConn had cruised through the NCAA Tournament, but Frese said her team wouldn't be intimidated by the Huskies.
"I think the biggest thing against Maryland is they can break you down with their guard play, and then they're so big inside," Auriemma said. "If you make a mistake on their guards, you've got the big guys to deal with. We needed to try and make sure that we only gave up one thing, that we didn't give up both. So we tried to concentrate on taking away their 3s, which they're really good at. And then try to create some mismatches on this end with Tuck and Stewie because I thought that's where we had the advantage."
The Terrapins took it right at them from the start, hanging with UConn for the first 10 minutes. Maryland only trailed 22-19 before UConn scored seven straight points capped by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis' 3-pointer that made it a 10-point game. Maryland (34-3) didn't back down getting back and pulled within 39-33 on Lexie Brown's 3-pointer with 1:52 left in the half.
Then Tuck took over.
She scored the final five points of the half to give the Huskies a double-digit advantage going into the break.
Tuck missed last season's championship run while she was recovering from microfracture surgery on her right knee that allowed her to only play in eight games. The redshirt sophomore made her presence felt on the game's biggest stage, finishing just two points short of her career high.
Brionna Jones scored 14 points and Lexie Brown added 12 to lead the Terrapins.
Brown had some extra support at the game as her father, former NBA slam dunk champion, Dee Brown was in attendance. He is an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings and was able to skip their game Sunday and see his daughter play.
He was sitting near former Celtics teammate Pervis Ellison, whose daughter Aja also plays for the Terrapins. Former NFL star Donovan McNabb was also in the crowd cheering on his niece Kia Nurse, who is a freshman at UConn.
The former athletes weren't the only stars at the game. Three-time Academy Award nominee Tom Cruise was sitting in a suite, though it wasn't clear who he was rooting for.
---
Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg



Final

(1) Maryland 58

(34-3, 18-0 Big Ten)

(1) Connecticut 81

(37-1, 18-0 American)




9:04PM,EDT,April 5,2015
Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida


1 2 T
#1MD 33 2558
#1CONN 44 3781
Top Performers
Maryland: B. Jones 14 Pts, 4 Reb, 1 Stl
Connecticut: B. Stewart 25 Pts, 8 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 4 Blk



Complete Play-By-Play

1 | 2 | All
 

1st Half Summary

TIMEMARYLANDSCORECONNECTICUT
20:00Jump Ball won by Maryland0-0 
19:55Laurin Mincy missed Layup.0-0 
19:55 0-0Moriah Jefferson Defensive Rebound.
19:49 0-2Morgan Tuck made Layup. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
19:31Foul on Brionna Jones.0-2 
19:31Brionna Jones Turnover.0-2 
19:21 0-4Breanna Stewart made Layup. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
18:54Lexie Brown made Layup.2-4 
18:45 2-4Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Jumper.
18:45Lexie Brown Defensive Rebound.2-4 
18:34Brionna Jones made Layup. Assisted by Lexie Brown.4-4 
18:21 4-4Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
18:21Brionna Jones Defensive Rebound.4-4 
18:16Lexie Brown Turnover.4-4 
18:16 4-4Moriah Jefferson Steal.
18:05 4-7Kia Nurse made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
17:37Brionna Jones made Layup. Assisted by Laurin Mincy.6-7 
17:31 6-7Moriah Jefferson Turnover.
17:31Lexie Brown Steal.6-7 
17:25Lexie Brown missed Three Point Jumper.6-7 
17:25 6-7Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
17:10 6-7Breanna Stewart Turnover.
17:10Brionna Jones Steal.6-7 
17:01Laurin Mincy missed Three Point Jumper.6-7 
17:01Shatori Walker-Kimbrough Offensive Rebound.6-7 
16:56Shatori Walker-Kimbrough made Layup.8-7 
16:43 8-10Moriah Jefferson made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Breanna Stewart.
16:24Laurin Mincy made Jumper.10-10 
16:04Foul on Brionna Jones.10-10 
15:56 10-10Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
15:56Kiara Leslie Block.10-10 
15:56 10-10Morgan Tuck Offensive Rebound.
15:50 10-10Kia Nurse missed Layup.
15:50Maryland Defensive Rebound.10-10 
15:50 Official TV Timeout
15:22Laurin Mincy missed Jumper.10-10 
15:22 10-10Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Defensive Rebound.
15:14 10-10Kia Nurse missed Three Point Jumper.
15:14 10-10Connecticut Offensive Rebound.
15:03 10-12Morgan Tuck made Jumper.
14:51Lexie Brown missed Three Point Jumper.10-12 
14:51 10-12Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
14:43Foul on Lexie Brown.10-12 
14:43 10-13Moriah Jefferson made Free Throw.
14:43 10-14Moriah Jefferson made Free Throw.
14:36Laurin Mincy Turnover.10-14 
14:36 10-14Breanna Stewart Steal.
14:17 10-16Moriah Jefferson made Layup.
14:01Shatori Walker-Kimbrough missed Layup.10-16 
14:01Shatori Walker-Kimbrough Offensive Rebound.10-16 
14:01Shatori Walker-Kimbrough made Two Point Tip Shot.12-16 
13:49 12-18Moriah Jefferson made Layup.
13:22Tierney Pfirman made Jumper. Assisted by Laurin Mincy.14-18 
13:01 14-18Moriah Jefferson missed Three Point Jumper.
13:01 14-18Breanna Stewart Offensive Rebound.
12:55 14-18Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
12:55 14-18Morgan Tuck Offensive Rebound.
12:50 14-20Morgan Tuck made Layup.
12:24Lexie Brown made Layup.16-20 
12:16 16-22Breanna Stewart made Layup. Assisted by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
12:04 16-22Foul on Kia Nurse.
11:49Kiara Leslie Turnover.16-22 
11:49 Official TV Timeout
11:38 16-22Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
11:38Malina Howard Defensive Rebound.16-22 
11:01Maryland Turnover.16-22 
10:44 16-22Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
10:44Malina Howard Defensive Rebound.16-22 
10:29A'Lexus Harrison missed Jumper.16-22 
10:29 16-22Connecticut Defensive Rebound.
10:26Foul on Malina Howard.16-22 
10:11 16-22Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Jumper.
10:11A'Lexus Harrison Defensive Rebound.16-22 
9:51Shatori Walker-Kimbrough missed Jumper.16-22 
9:51 16-22Kiah Stokes Defensive Rebound.
9:40 16-22Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Turnover.
9:13Chloe Pavlech made Three Point Jumper.19-22 
8:42 19-22Jump Ball won by Connecticut
8:39Foul on Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.19-22 
8:39 19-23Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
8:39 19-24Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
8:25Tierney Pfirman missed Jumper.19-24 
8:25 19-24Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
8:13 19-24Breanna Stewart missed Three Point Jumper.
8:13Tierney Pfirman Defensive Rebound.19-24 
8:03Lexie Brown missed Layup.19-24 
8:03 19-24Kiah Stokes Block.
8:03Tierney Pfirman Offensive Rebound.19-24 
7:59 Official TV Timeout
7:59Laurin Mincy Turnover.19-24 
7:42 19-26Kiah Stokes made Layup. Assisted by Breanna Stewart.
7:21Chloe Pavlech missed Three Point Jumper.19-26 
7:21 19-26Kiah Stokes Defensive Rebound.
7:07 19-29Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Breanna Stewart.
6:41Lexie Brown made Jumper.21-29 
6:15 21-32Breanna Stewart made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Kiah Stokes.
6:11Maryland Timeout
6:10Laurin Mincy Turnover.21-32 
6:10 21-32Moriah Jefferson Steal.
6:06 21-34Moriah Jefferson made Layup.
5:39Shatori Walker-Kimbrough made Jumper. Assisted by Malina Howard.23-34 
5:18 23-34Foul on Breanna Stewart.
5:18 23-34Breanna Stewart Turnover.
5:04Brionna Jones made Layup. Assisted by Malina Howard.25-34 
4:47 25-34Foul on Morgan Tuck.
4:47 25-34Morgan Tuck Turnover.
4:16Maryland Turnover.25-34 
4:11 25-36Morgan Tuck made Layup.
4:02Brene Moseley made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Lexie Brown.28-36 
3:51 28-38Kiah Stokes made Layup. Assisted by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
3:33Brionna Jones missed Jumper.28-38 
3:33 28-38Kiah Stokes Block.
3:33 28-38Kiah Stokes Defensive Rebound.
3:27 28-38Kiah Stokes Turnover.
3:27Lexie Brown Steal.28-38 
3:21Malina Howard made Layup. Assisted by Brene Moseley.30-38 
3:06Foul on Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.30-38 
3:06 Official TV Timeout
2:48Foul on Kiara Leslie.30-38 
2:48 30-39Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
2:48 30-39Breanna Stewart missed Free Throw.
2:48Kiara Leslie Defensive Rebound.30-39 
2:32Malina Howard missed Jumper.30-39 
2:32 30-39Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
2:13 30-39Breanna Stewart missed Three Point Jumper.
2:13Kiara Leslie Defensive Rebound.30-39 
1:56Lexie Brown made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Malina Howard.33-39 
1:38 33-41Morgan Tuck made Layup.
1:17Brene Moseley missed Three Point Jumper.33-41 
1:17 33-41Kiah Stokes Defensive Rebound.
1:01 33-44Morgan Tuck made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
0:39Lexie Brown missed Three Point Jumper.33-44 
0:39 33-44Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
0:33 33-44Moriah Jefferson missed Layup.
0:33Brene Moseley Defensive Rebound.33-44 
0:31 33-44Foul on Breanna Stewart.
0:12 33-44Foul on Morgan Tuck.
0:02Brene Moseley missed Three Point Jumper.33-44 
0:02 33-44Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
0:00End of 1st half
 

2nd Half Summary

TIMEMARYLANDSCORECONNECTICUT
20:00Jump Ball won by Maryland33-44 
19:41Brionna Jones missed Layup.33-44 
19:41 33-44Morgan Tuck Block.
19:41Brionna Jones Offensive Rebound.33-44 
19:41Brionna Jones missed Layup.33-44 
19:41 33-44Breanna Stewart Block.
19:41Maryland Offensive Rebound.33-44 
19:34Laurin Mincy Turnover.33-44 
19:34 33-44Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Steal.
19:23 33-44Morgan Tuck missed Jumper.
19:23 33-44Breanna Stewart Offensive Rebound.
19:07 33-44Kia Nurse Turnover.
19:07Laurin Mincy Steal.33-44 
18:51Shatori Walker-Kimbrough missed Three Point Jumper.33-44 
18:51 33-44Kia Nurse Defensive Rebound.
18:31Foul on Malina Howard.33-44 
18:27 33-44Jump Ball won by Connecticut
18:18 33-47Morgan Tuck made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
17:57Laurin Mincy missed Three Point Jumper.33-47 
17:57 33-47Breanna Stewart Block.
17:57 33-47Kia Nurse Defensive Rebound.
17:50 33-49Breanna Stewart made Layup. Assisted by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
17:45Maryland Timeout
17:25Foul on Malina Howard.33-49 
17:25Malina Howard Turnover.33-49 
17:17 33-51Kia Nurse made Layup. Assisted by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
16:55 33-51Foul on Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
16:55Chloe Pavlech Turnover.33-51 
16:40 33-51Morgan Tuck missed Three Point Jumper.
16:40Lexie Brown Defensive Rebound.33-51 
16:30Chloe Pavlech missed Three Point Jumper.33-51 
16:30 33-51Connecticut Defensive Rebound.
16:19 33-53Morgan Tuck made Layup.
16:05Shatori Walker-Kimbrough missed Jumper.33-53 
16:05Brionna Jones Offensive Rebound.33-53 
15:56Brionna Jones made Layup. Assisted by Chloe Pavlech.35-53 
15:43 35-53Morgan Tuck missed Three Point Jumper.
15:43Shatori Walker-Kimbrough Defensive Rebound.35-53 
15:23Malina Howard missed Jumper.35-53 
15:23 35-53Connecticut Defensive Rebound.
15:19 Official TV Timeout
15:12 35-53Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
15:12 35-53Morgan Tuck Offensive Rebound.
15:04 35-55Morgan Tuck made Layup.
14:46 35-55Foul on Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
14:41Brionna Jones made Layup.37-55 
14:27Foul on Tierney Pfirman.37-55 
14:13 37-55Kia Nurse missed Three Point Jumper.
14:13 37-55Moriah Jefferson Offensive Rebound.
14:01Foul on Brionna Jones.37-55 
14:01 37-56Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
14:01 37-57Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
13:47Lexie Brown made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Brene Moseley.40-57 
13:37 40-57Breanna Stewart missed Layup.
13:37Brene Moseley Defensive Rebound.40-57 
13:15Brene Moseley made Jumper.42-57 
12:56 42-60Breanna Stewart made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
12:36Shatori Walker-Kimbrough missed Jumper.42-60 
12:36Tierney Pfirman Offensive Rebound.42-60 
12:31 42-60Foul on Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
12:23Brene Moseley missed Three Point Jumper.42-60 
12:23 42-60Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Defensive Rebound.
12:18Foul on Brene Moseley.42-60 
12:01 42-60Foul on Kia Nurse.
12:01 42-60Kia Nurse Turnover.
11:35 42-60Foul on Kiah Stokes.
11:35 Official TV Timeout
11:35Brene Moseley made Free Throw.43-60 
11:35Brene Moseley made Free Throw.44-60 
11:16 44-60Breanna Stewart missed Three Point Jumper.
11:16Brene Moseley Defensive Rebound.44-60 
11:09Brene Moseley missed Three Point Jumper.44-60 
11:09Brene Moseley Offensive Rebound.44-60 
10:44A'Lexus Harrison made Jumper. Assisted by Brene Moseley.46-60 
10:24Foul on Lexie Brown.46-60 
10:24 46-61Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
10:24 46-62Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
10:01Kristen Confroy missed Three Point Jumper.46-62 
10:01 46-62Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
9:50 46-64Kiah Stokes made Layup. Assisted by Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
9:41Kristen Confroy missed Jumper.46-64 
9:41 46-64Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
9:31 46-64Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Three Point Jumper.
9:31 46-64Connecticut Offensive Rebound.
9:26Foul on Brionna Jones.46-64 
9:26 46-65Morgan Tuck made Free Throw.
9:26 46-66Morgan Tuck made Free Throw.
9:13 46-66Foul on Moriah Jefferson.
8:48Brene Moseley made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by A'Lexus Harrison.49-66 
8:24 49-68Morgan Tuck made Jumper. Assisted by Gabby Williams.
8:05Brene Moseley missed Jumper.49-68 
8:05 49-68Breanna Stewart Defensive Rebound.
7:51 49-68Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Layup.
7:51A'Lexus Harrison Defensive Rebound.49-68 
7:23A'Lexus Harrison missed Jumper.49-68 
7:23 49-68Breanna Stewart Block.
7:23Maryland Offensive Rebound.49-68 
7:21 Official TV Timeout
7:18Lexie Brown missed Jumper.49-68 
7:18 49-68Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
7:04Foul on Tierney Pfirman.49-68 
7:04 49-69Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
7:04 49-70Breanna Stewart made Free Throw.
6:49Brene Moseley missed Three Point Jumper.49-70 
6:49Tierney Pfirman Offensive Rebound.49-70 
6:44Tierney Pfirman made Jumper.51-70 
6:13 51-72Breanna Stewart made Layup. Assisted by Moriah Jefferson.
5:46 51-72Foul on Gabby Williams.
5:46Brionna Jones made Free Throw.52-72 
5:46Brionna Jones made Free Throw.53-72 
5:28 53-74Gabby Williams made Layup.
5:01 53-74Foul on Gabby Williams.
5:01Laurin Mincy made Free Throw.54-74 
5:01Laurin Mincy missed Free Throw.54-74 
5:01 54-74Kiah Stokes Defensive Rebound.
4:43 54-74Moriah Jefferson missed Three Point Jumper.
4:43Tierney Pfirman Defensive Rebound.54-74 
4:28Laurin Mincy Turnover.54-74 
4:10Foul on Laurin Mincy.54-74 
4:10 54-75Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made Free Throw.
4:10 54-75Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed Free Throw.
4:10Brionna Jones Defensive Rebound.54-75 
3:47Brene Moseley made Jumper.56-75 
3:31 56-75Morgan Tuck Turnover.
3:30 Official TV Timeout
3:14Brionna Jones missed Layup.56-75 
3:14 56-75Breanna Stewart Block.
3:14 56-75Morgan Tuck Defensive Rebound.
3:01 56-75Breanna Stewart missed Layup.
3:01 56-75Breanna Stewart Offensive Rebound.
2:48 56-78Moriah Jefferson made Three Point Jumper.
2:28Laurin Mincy Turnover.56-78 
2:28 56-78Breanna Stewart Steal.
2:00 56-78Breanna Stewart missed Three Point Jumper.
2:00 56-78Kiah Stokes Offensive Rebound.
1:51Connecticut Timeout
1:39 56-80Breanna Stewart made Layup.
1:21Tierney Pfirman missed Jumper.56-80 
1:21 56-80Gabby Williams Defensive Rebound.
1:12Connecticut Timeout
1:03Foul on Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.56-80 
1:03 56-80Gabby Williams missed Free Throw.
1:03 56-80Connecticut Deadball Team Rebound.
1:03 56-81Gabby Williams made Free Throw.
0:36Brene Moseley missed Jumper.56-81 
0:36Kristen Confroy Offensive Rebound.56-81 
0:26Brionna Jones made Layup. Assisted by Brene Moseley.58-81 
0:00End of Game


 
Maryland Terrapins
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Malina Howard C221-30-00-0022300132
Brionna Jones C246-100-02-22240101414
Lexie Brown G385-102-50-00222201212
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough G283-80-10-0213000036
Laurin Mincy G221-50-21-2000210613
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Tierney Pfirman F192-40-00-0325000024
A'Lexus Harrison F101-30-00-0022100002
Kiara Leslie G40-00-00-0022001110
Kristen Confroy G40-20-10-0101000000
Brene Moseley G214-112-72-21344000112
Chloe Pavlech G81-31-30-0000100103
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS

24-595-195-61117281341131758

40.7%26.3%83.3%
Connecticut Huskies
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis F321-81-51-2022710134
Breanna Stewart F397-132-69-103583242225
Morgan Tuck F3810-162-42-23690012224
Kia Nurse G262-51-30-0022000225
Moriah Jefferson G385-82-42-21125201114
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Kiah Stokes C183-30-00-0156102116
Courtney Ekmark G10-00-00-0000000000
Gabby Williams G61-10-01-2011100023
Saniya Chong G20-00-00-0000000000
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS

29-548-2215-18102535175791381

53.7%36.4%83.3%
 Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: None - TEAMS: None
 Officials: Eric Brewton, Joseph Vaszily, Maj Forsberg
 Attendance: 19,730