It’s the women’s Final Four Friday in the NCAA Division I basketball

The women’s Division I Final Four fell into place for overall top-seeded Stanford and No. 1 seeded South Carolina, and  while No. 1 seed Connecticut probably expected the other No. 1 seed North Carolina State, the Huskies instead got 3rd-seeded Arizona in Friday’s other game played in the San Antonio Alamodome.

But legendary head coach Geno Auriemma of the 11-time national champions, with a team of non-seniors and led by All-America freshman Paige Buekers, also the Player of the Year, has been around too long to take the Wildcats lightly in their initial trip to this stage.

“It’s what they are doing now,” said Auriemma, “and it’s so far it’s been a program best. I watched some of their game against Indiana, and was impressed by their (Aari) McDonald and the way they broke open a close game with a big fourth quarter, and that’s what we have to contend with.”

Yes, it’s a new road Arizona (20-5) has taken in winning the Mercado Region. After 4th-seeded Indiana eliminated NC State, the Wildcats ousted 2nd-seeded Texas A & M. Of course UConn has been there plenty since its first NCAA  championship in 1995 under Auriemma.

This is its 13th straight appearance in the semifinals, and although it was a 7th-seed in the pre-season balloting, these Huskies have come together behind the stellar play of versatile, leadership play of Bueckers to win 28 of 29 times, the lone loss at Arkansas by four points and before a season women’s high of 4,400 Razorback fans.

But that’s old news, now its Arizona they will have to deal with, with the survivor to take on either Stanford of South Carolina in the Saturday championship.

The Cardinal and Gamecocks are in the opening game after Stanford (29-2) won the Alamo Region by coming back twice from double-digit deficits to down 2nd-seeded Louisville, 78-63, and South Carolina (26-4) shut down 6th-seeded Texas, 62-34, to claim the Hemisphere Region. In the River Walk Region, it was Connecticut getting past 2nd-seeded Baylor, 69-67, while Arizona won the Mercado by disposing of the Hoosiers, 68-53.

Stanford from behind the 3-point arch has averaged 13 a game in the tournament, but was hampered by the Louisville defense until it made a run late in the third quarter and into the fourth with a big stretch run by leading scorer Kianna  Williams after a cold-shooting opening half. In the first quarter, the Cardinal trailed 17-4 before trimming it to four at halftime. Then, after Louisville All-America Danna Evans continued her hot shooting and floor play, her side was up by nine before Stanford’s final run made it a going away victory.

South Carolina also grabbed a quick lead by leading 18-7 after one quarter against the Longhorns (21-10), and was up 37-22 at the intermission. Texas had no answers as the Gamecocks had four players in double figures, with Zia Cooke scoring the game-high 22 points. Down 41-22, the Longhorns went on a 7-point run to trim the gap to 41-31, but back came South Carolina to increase the lead to 52-34.

Against Indiana, Arizona got a game-high 33 points from McDonald, the Pac12 Player of the Year. But its main problem against UConn is not only Bueckers, but a well-balanced offence led by junior Christyn Williams, the 2018 high school Player of the Year, 6-foot-5 junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who has become not only a threat in the post, but on bringing down rebounds, and handing out assists, while 6-3 freshman Aaliyah Edwards has been tough underneath and on defense, and junior Evina Westbrook has been handling the ball and tossing in 3s.

Unlike his other teams in recent years, Auriemma now has depth by calling on 6-1 Aubrey Griffin, 6-2 Anna Makurat, and hopeful of getting 5-10 freshman starting guard Nika Muhl back Friday after she sprained her ankle against Iowa. But Auriemma has learned through the years to not take any opponent for granted, and right now his only concern in cooling off Arizona.

While the Huskies were the only Big East team to gain the tournament, the Pac12 had five with Stanford and Arizona remaining. The Southeastern Conference had two, and South Carolina got through. The Big 10 put four into play and the Atlantic Coast Conference three.

Surprises were 2nd-seeded, high scoring Maryland, losing to Texas, Stanford with an abrupt halt of the Missouri State’s 19-game win streak, UConn overwhelming 6th-seeded Iowa by 20 points, Indiana eliminating North Carolina State, and 5th-seeded Georgia Tech playing well until a close setback to South Carolina.