Wiggins, Stanford advance

From combined dispatches

Stanford 82, Connecticut 73

TAMPA, Fla. — The bigger the stage, the better Candice Wiggins performs.

Wiggins continued her electrifying run through the NCAA tournament, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while getting some timely help from Kayla Pederson and JJ Hones as the Cardinal shocked the Huskies in last night’s national semifinals.

Back in the Final Four for the first time in 11 years, Stanford (35-3) avenged an early season loss to Connecticut (36-2) and advanced to tomorrow night’s title game, where it will put a 23-game winning streak on the line against Tennessee.

Wiggins didn’t shoot particularly well, going 7-for-19, but made two huge 3-pointers to help Stanford pull away for good after UConn trimmed a seven-point halftime deficit to 47-46 and appeared to be taking control.

Down the stretch, the Cardinal’s lone senior starter got lots of help from her supporting cast.

Hones hit a deep 3-pointer to put Stanford up 10 with 3:20 left, then Pederson answered a 3-pointer that drew UConn within 71-66 with a long jumper of her own to send Cardinal fans into celebration mode.

Pederson finished with 17 points, and Jayne Appel added 15. Maya Moore led UConn with 20 points on 8-for-19 shooting.

Tennessee 47, LSU 46

TAMPA, Fla. — Alexis Hornbuckle’s only basket of the game was enough to get Tennessee back in the championship game.

Hornbuckle’s putback with 0.7 seconds left lifted the Volunteers past the Tigers in a national semifinal game. It was the lowest scoring game in Final Four history.

Candace Parker did all she could with her injured shoulder, scoring 13 points and grabbing 15 rebounds to lead Tennessee.

The Vols (35-2) moved within a win of their eighth national championship. To do it, Tennessee will have to beat Stanford, which stunned Connecticut 82-73 in the other semifinal.

The Vols are looking to become the first repeat champions since the Huskies won three straight titles from 2002 to 2004.

Meanwhile, LSU’s title game drought continued. The Tigers, who have been a Final Four staple the last five seasons, again failed to make it to the championship game.