European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 30 stars and stripes thursday March 29 2007 leu overcomes controversy Conn to reach semifinals the associated press Fresno Calif Sylvia Fowles climbed up the ladder and made the final Cut before waving the net in Celebration her team in turmoil coming into the Mcaa tournament Fowles has leu right Back where the lady tigers expected to be be fore their coach sudden Resigna Tion a fourth straight final four appearance Fowles overpowered connect Cut with 23 Points 15 rebounds and an intimidating defensive performance that led third seeded leu to a 7350 Victory Over the to seeded huskies on monday night in the Fresno regional final every time i go to sleep i dream about cutting Down the net and having it around my neck Fowles said tonight that All came True the lady tigers 307 handed Connecticut its most lopsided tournament loss in 15 years and made the huskies 324 look nothing like the program that dominated College basketball just a few years ago its been an emotional month for the leu players who had to Deal with the aftermath of coach Pokey Chat mans resignation March 7 amid allegations of improper con duct with a former player i dont think a lot of people thought that we would be where were going to be acting coach Bob Starkey said we handled the adversity Starkey a longtime assistant for both the mens and women programs at leu stepped in admirably he has an undefeated record As a head coach and looks to end his career that Way with two More wins next week in Cleveland Starkey said he has no aspirations to become the full time coach leu will play Rutgers on Sun Day looking to Advance to the championship after falling Short in the semifinals the previous three years leu joins Conn Tennessee and Louisiana tech As the Only school to make four straight final fours Gerry Arizona states Aubree Johnson cant get past the defense off Rutgers Heather Zurich left and Kia Vaughn 15 in the first half monday this is More special Fowles said if s More special because our team really came together were playing our Best basketball and we feel Good about ourselves Connecticut will be left watch ing the final four for the third straight year after making it that far the previous five seasons this matches Conns longest final four drought since making its first in 1991 the huskies who won 7271 at leu last month had no answers for Fowles who dominated the game right from the Start its really hard when you have such a dominant Post player Conn guard Renee Montgom Ery said Shes so athletic she can jump really High so they just throw the Ball up in the air and have her go get it with Long arms Quick feet and a 6foot6 Frame Fowles is an intimidating presence in the Middle of the defense she blocked six shots altered Many others had three steals deflected passes and forced the huskies into bad shots and turnovers the two players Fowles guarded most Charles and Kaili Mclaren each went ofor5 from the Field Conn shot just 33 percent Overall i had a Little swagger under my Belt tonight Fowles said i wanted to prove a Point that we can hang with anybody Fowles even showed off her passing skills with a pretty Back door assist to Lashonta Leblanc Midway through the second half Fowles also got some help with some outside shooting from Alli son Hightower and Ashley Tho Mas Hightower hit three three pointers in the first half and Thomas hit a pair in the second after the huskies Cut Luss Lead to 12 the lady tigers led by at least 10 Points for the final 26 minutes everybody always double teams Sylvia Thomas said we knew we had to come out tonight and Knock Down shots i did it and my teammates did it Thomas and Hightower scored 12 Points apiece for leu and Erica White added 11 Montgomery led Conn with 17 Points and Mel Thomas added 13 Rich Connecticut Center Tina Charles Center has her shot blocked by Louisi Ana state Center Sylvia Fowles right As Luss Ashley Thomas left looks on during the second half in Fresno Calif monday leu exposed All the things were not Good at Conn coach Geno Auriemma said we tried to hide it As Long As we could they made it a Hal court game and right now that not one of our strengths Fowles scored nine Points Dur ing an 184 run Early in the game to give the lady tigers a 2210 Lead she outscored Conn on her own through the first scor ing 13 Points to the huskies 12 Greensboro regional Rutgers 64 Arizona state 45 Rutgers didst have any seniors the Scarlet knights also didst seem to have a Chance a american Cappie Pondexter was gone the Scarlet knights lost four of their first seven and they were dealt a difficult draw in the Mcaa tournament playing games in the backyards of Michi Gan state and Duke Ive never worked with a group of Young people who had to come from such a great distance Back coach c Vivian Stringer said Treyve gone further than any one Coul Dve dreamed All the Way to the final four youre going to appreciate it in the end its not Over yet for Ward essence Carson said we cant just give in now weve come this far theres no Way we can turn Back now so now its off to Cleveland after their second straight upset in Greensboro two Days after Shock ing to seeded Duke in the final moments Kia Vaughn had 17 Points 10 re Bounds and two blocks while own ing the Lane Matee Ajavon had 20 Points Carson added 11 and Eliph Anny Prince had 10 Points and 10 rebounds for the Scarlet knights who led by 24 and held a 4826 rebounding advantage in winning their seventh straight they put up a fight they put up a Good one said Vaughn who at 6foot4 was two inches taller than primary defender Aubree Johnson i had the advantage Only because i kept working they didst let me get anything easy i worked hard i really did work i had elbows everywhere in the Back i just had to be Strong and take control and largely because the Sun devils 315 had no answer inside for Vaughn the Scarlet knights can pack for 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