This was the first Division I women's championship game to be played in quarters instead of halves, following an NCAA rule change for women's basketball only that took effect in the 2015–16 season.
Participants
Going into the game, UConn and Syracuse had met 49 times in women's basketball, mostly when both teams were in the Big East Conference, with UConn winning 37 games. The last game between the two teams was in 2013, the final season before the three-way split of the Big East, when the Huskies won 64–51 in the Big East semifinals.[3]
Following that season, Syracuse and two other Big East schools left for the ACC; the seven schools that did not sponsor Division I FBS football left to form a new Big East Conference; and the remaining members of the original Big East, including UConn, reorganized as the American Athletic Conference.
Syracuse shot only 35.5 percent from the floor, compared to Connecticut's 51.9 percent, and the Orange found themselves in a 50–23 hole at halftime. Syracuse scored 16 straight points to get within 60–43 with 2:02 left in the third quarter, but the Huskies went on a 22–8 run to end the game.[5]
Pts: C. Fondren 16 Rebs: B. Day 5 Asts: B. Sykes 2
Pts: B. Stewart 24 Rebs: B. Stewart 10 Asts: B. Stewart 6
Bankers Life Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN Attendance: 14,514 Referees:Dee Kantner, Lisa Jones & Beverly Roberts
Broadcast
The Championship Game was broadcast in the United States by ESPN. Beth Mowins was calling the play-by-play, with Doris Burke providing color commentary and Holly Rowe on the court. Kevin Negandhi served as the studio host. Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo served as studio commentators.[6] The game was seen by 2.97 million viewers.[7]
Radio coverage in the United States was provided by Westwood One.[8]
