BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Over the past decade, the women's basketball team has elevated itself to elite status by advancing to the Sweet 16 nine consecutive seasons and the Regional finals seven of those nine years.
In order to make their fourth trip to the Final Four and continue their drive to win that elusive first National Championship, the Blue Devils (29-3) will have to go through one of the few programs that has had even more success-Connecticut. The Huskies (32-4), one season removed from three consecutive National Championships, have been the benchmark in women's college basketball over the last 15 seasons by winning five national titles.
The two programs will meet for the first time in NCAA Tournament play Tuesday night at 9 p.m. at the Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
A win would send Duke to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. The Blue Devils have lost in the Regional Final in each of the last two seasons-Duke was upset by No. 7 Minnesota in 2004 and fell to top-seeded LSU last season.
"The knock on our program has been that we haven't had a National Championship," senior Monique Currie said. "We've tasted what it's like to be close. From the beginning of the season, we've had a goal to win the National Championship and I think we're on the right track to make those dreams come true."
This year, the Blue Devils enter the Regional final coming off three straight blowout wins. Duke has defeated all three of its opponents in the tournament so far by at least 25 points.
To keep the momentum alive, the Blue Devils will not only have to beat Connecticut but will have to do it in the Huskies' backyard in Bridgeport-a mere 80 miles from the school's home in Storrs.
Duke will call on its big-game experience-honed with road victories at Tennessee last season and a stirring come-from-behind win at UConn in 2004-to keep the crowd out of the game.
"It's not like this is going to be the first time facing this," sophomore guard Wanisha Smith said. "It's not a new experience for us, and I think we're well-equipped. I think it's going to be an exciting game whether the fans are for us or against us."
UConn has taken advantage of playing close to home in the NCAA Tournament before. In 2004, the second-seeded Huskies knocked off No. 1 Penn State in Hartford en route to its third straight National Championship. UConn has also won several sub-regional games on its home floor in Storrs over the past decade.
"I think too much is made of the crowd," Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said. "The crowd's going to be great. They're going to be loud, they're going to be enthusiastic because that's how the people in this area are. They love basketball and they turn out more so than in any other region in the country. But when you're supposed to win, you win, whether you're home, on the road, on a neutral court."
Duke will also have to handle UConn wing Barbara Turner, who scored 31 points Sunday night against Georgia, including a game-winning fadeaway three-pointer with 1.8 seconds remaining. Turner's 24 points per game in the Tournament nearly doubles her season average of 12.4. The Blue Devils will try to bother the senior in the same way they held Michigan State star Liz Shimek to just five points Sunday night.
"You just have to play smart defense," senior Mistie Williams said. "[Turner's] just a tremendous player. I think [Sunday] night just showed that she's really capable of dominating an entire game. You just have to play smart defense, not get in early foul trouble, box her out and know where she is at all times."
Duke eagerly awaits the challenge of playing the Huskies in their home state and returning to college basketball's promised land.
"It's nice to beat someone at home, and I guess they're as close to home as anybody," Currie said. "We're looking forward to hearing stunned silence."
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