Three seniors get off the bench to help UConn make run at sixth title

4/4/2008 3:25 PM

By PAT EATON-ROBB
Associated Press Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Connecticut's drive for a sixth national championship may come down to the play of three seniors who have never been to a Final Four and spent a good part of the regular season watching from the bench.

Point guard Ketia Swanier, forward Charde Houston and center Brittany Hunter combined for just six points when Connecticut beat Stanford 66-54 in November. But they have each played major roles for the Huskies (36-1) in the postseason, and are expected to be a much bigger part of Sunday's rematch with the Cardinal (34-3) in the national semifinals.

Swanier began her senior year backing up junior Renee Montgomery and later freshman Lorin Dixon at the point, providing a spark off the bench and earning the Big East's inaugural Sixth Man award. She worked her way into the starting lineup after classmate Mel Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury in January, and Montgomery moved into the shooting guard spot.

Swanier scored 15 points and played all 40 minutes in the Huskies come-from-behind win over Rutgers in the Greensboro Regional final.

``She's my MVP because of her leadership, knocking down free throws, running our team, making hustle plays, diving on the floor,'' said UConn freshman Maya Moore after the Rutgers game. ``I think she's one of the most underrated players. She goes out every night and leads us.''

Hunter played in just 29 games this season, and could give only a few minutes at a time in the others because of chronic problems with her surgically repaired right knee, which includes cartilage transplanted from a corpse.

Coming into the postseason, she vowed she wouldn't let her knee keep her from contributing during her final games.

``I've never even attended a Final Four,'' said Hunter after UConn earned their trip to Tampa. ``I never won my high school championship. I really haven't won anything. So I'm pushing through everything. I'm leaving it all on the court. My situation has been a big ordeal. Winning it all would be sweet irony.''

She has scored 33 points, while playing a total of 48 minutes in the NCAA tournament's four games.

``Brittany's probably averaging more points per minute than anybody in the tournament,'' coach Geno Auriemma said. ``You look at her and realize, man, two years ago, (the doctor) was saying, 'You may never play.' Forget 50-50. This thing could not work at all. For her to be in the situation she is in right now, it's tremendous. I'm so happy for her. I'm so proud of her.''

But Houston has been perhaps the biggest surprise. After playing just over 5 minutes a game and averaging a little more than 4 points during the regular season, she came alive during the Big East conference tournament. She scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the championship game victory over Louisville, to earn most valuable player honors. She has followed that up by averaging over 10 points a game in the NCAA tournament.

The seniors have won over 87 percent of their games at UConn, but not the big one - yet.

``To be here where we are right now and have Brittany playing her best basketball, to have Charde Houston productive,'' Auriemma said. ``Man, that's what makes you feel good about this whole thing.''