Game of the 2022 women's NCAA tournament? Yup. You likely didn't hydrate enough for the instant classic which unfolded as the UConn Huskies outlasted the NC State Wolfpack 91-87 to secure their 14th straight Final Four berth in the Bridgeport Regional final in Connecticut on Monday.
The double-overtime thriller was the first multi-OT Elite Eight game in the history of the women's NCAA tournament, and it was as exciting as it was long.
While 2-seed UConn led for the majority of regulation, 1-seed NC State turned things all the way up in the third and fourth quarters to retake the lead for the first time since the first basket of the game. What ensued in the first and second installments of OT after the back-and-forth end to regulation was a whole other level of intensity.
The game featured nine and 13 lead changes by the time the final buzzer sounded. It also featured reigning national player of the year Paige Bueckers in all her glory (27 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field).
Here's what the sports world had to say about the game which had us wishing both teams could take a trip to Minneapolis.
Paige cold blooded
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) March 29, 2022
You WBB haters take that!! 🤣🤣🤣 @MarchMadnessWBB
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) March 29, 2022
This UConn-NC State game is bonkers.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 29, 2022
What a shot!!#MarchMadness
Paige Bueckers 👑
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 29, 2022
Paige is unconscious!
— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) March 29, 2022
I have anxiety 😅
— Katie Lou Samuelson (@33katielou) March 29, 2022
This NC State and UConn game is elite!!(Jmac)
— Devin&Jason McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) March 29, 2022
What a game. Geez. High level basketball. Clutch shot making. Fun to watch. #uconn #NCState
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) March 29, 2022
Wow, that Uconn/NC State matchup was one of the best games I've ever witnessed!
— Layshia Clarendon (@Layshiac) March 29, 2022
Paige Bueckers is a problem!!
— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) March 29, 2022
Paige Bueckers
— Evan Turner (@thekidet) March 29, 2022