UConn coach geno auriemma criticized officiating during a live broadcast and then marched toward South Carolina coach Dawn Staley in the final seconds of a 62-48 Final Four loss in Phoenix, as reported by AP and shown on television.
Auriemma told ESPN commentator Holly Rowe that six fouls in the third quarter were all called against UConn, and he said his players were being physically dominated on the interior, remarks he defended after the game, according to ESPN and AP.
The sideline exchange ended with assistants and officials separating the two coaches, and Auriemma left the court without a postgame handshake with the Gamecocks, according to AP. Staley later said she had no idea why Auriemma approached her, and she stressed her integrity on ESPN.
Game Details Reactions And Consequences
UConn's offense sputtered as senior Azzi Fudd and sophomore Sarah Strong struggled, with AP reporting Fudd made eight points on 3-of-15 shooting and Strong scored 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting, a season low for the Huskies.
The Gamecocks out-rebounded UConn 47-32 and forced a decisive stretch in the fourth quarter, during which UConn scored nine points and shot 2 of 14, according to AP. The Huskies were whistled for 17 fouls while South Carolina was called for eight.
Video shown after the game confirmed Staley shook hands with Auriemma before the game, and Auriemma later said he had waited roughly three minutes for a second pregame handshake, as he told reporters, according to ESPN. He also said he stood by his on-air comments about the officiating.
The loss ended UConn's 54-game winning streak, AP reported, and advanced South Carolina to the national championship, where the Gamecocks will face UCLA, according to ESPN. Commentators noted South Carolina has reached the title game in four of the past five seasons and claimed two championships in that span.
