BC has the final say

HARTFORD -- Senior point guard Amber Jacobs had one request of her teammates on the Boston College women's basketball team for her final year: "Just bring me a Big East championship, I just want to win the Big East championship."

The Eagles took a huge step toward granting Jacobs's wish yesterday when they upset the top-seeded and third-ranked University of Connecticut, 73-70, in the Big East semifinals before 10,833 at Hartford Civic Center. The Eagles (24-6) advance to the championship game tonight, when they will face Rutgers, which defeated West Virginia, 61-51.

BC, ranked 23d in the nation and seeded fifth in the Big East tournament, has been to the finals only twice before. UConn (25-4) has been a regular, making yearly appearances since 1994 and winning 11 tournament titles.

"I'm just overjoyed," said BC coach Cathy Inglese. "I can't be any happier for this team."

The Eagles shot 29 for 46 from the floor for a tournament-record 63 percent, beating a team that had defeated them twice in the regular season (once by 21 points at home).

The Huskies took an early lead, 7-6, but a jumper by Jacobs, then one by Kathrin Ress, put the Eagles in front. They built the lead to double digits at 30-20 and were up by 7, 39-32, at the half.

UConn drew within 2 points, 59-57, with 8:19 left in the game, then tied it on a layup by Ashley Battle. The Eagles clung to their slim lead until the Huskies tied it again, 70-70, with 1:16 to go on a 3-point play by Diana Taurasi.

Then the Eagles did what the four-time national champion Huskies usually do in such a situation: They took control. Ress made one of two free throws, then Ann Strother missed a 3-pointer on the other end and UConn lost the ball on the rebound. BC's Jessalyn Deveny pounced on the ball and called a timeout. When BC inbounded, Deveny was fouled by Taurasi and sank both free throws.

In the final moments, the Huskies were unable to get off a tying 3-point attempt, as Strother dribbled downcourt and lost the ball as time expired.

"I'm just kind of speechless," said Deveny, who had a game-high 21 points. "We came out here today knowing exactly what we needed to do. The post played amazing defense down inside, and the guards did a great job outside."

Ress, a freshman forward, had 18 points, and Jacobs had 13 points and 5 assists.

"We've played them three times now, and we just knew what we had to do," said Ress, who was as effective inside as she was hitting jumpers from the key.

"We just had to find the right tempo, and not take rushed shots," Deveny said.

The Huskies played their usual pressing, fast-paced game, and shot 27 for 47 from the floor (57 percent). Taurasi was their leading scorer with 17 points, but she made just 2 of 7 from behind the arc.

"It's hard when you're down double digits," said Taurasi, expressing a complaint usually voiced by UConn opponents. "In the second half, I thought we would get back in it, but they just made shot after shot. They made every big shot they had to."

Added UConn coach Geno Auriemma, "I don't know how you measure this loss, and I don't know how you prepare for it, because you really can't. But the inevitable inevitably happens."

These teams had met 47 times before, with UConn winning 35. The Eagles hadn't won since 1999.

"I'm just overwhelmed," said Jacobs. "These teams knew each other very well, and I think we knew what we had to do. At the beginning of the season, I said, out of anything we do, I just want to win the Big East title."

Now Jacobs and her teammates are just one game away.