Washington Informer

Brittney Griner is one of the most dominant players in the history of women's college basketball. Some have labeled her unstoppable.

However, Louisville was able to contain her Sunday night and pull off one of the most shocking upsets in NCAA tournament history.

Considered a prohibitive favorite to win a second consecutive national championship – and at a minimum a lock for the final four – Griner and the Bears were beaten 82-81 by fifth-seeded Louisville.

Led by Griner, Baylor (34-2) was on a 32-game winning streak. But the 6-foot-8 leader didn't make a field goal until the second half, then committed a foul with 2.6 seconds remaining that gave Louisville an opportunity to win.

Monique Reid converted those two free throws, enabling the Cardinals (27-8) to escape after they blew a 17-point lead in the final 8 minutes.

Louisville faced Tennessee in the regional final on April 2 for a spot in the Final Four.

Odyssey Sims had 29 points, including two foul shots with 9.1 seconds to go, that gave Baylor the lead 81-80. Sims had one more shot to extend the season, but her desperation heave was late and off-target.

Sims went to the floor after her shot missed, kicking her legs and pulling her jersey over her face as she lay on her back. Griner squatted next to her and banged on the floor with both hands prior to helping Sims get back on her feet.

It was an abrupt ending to a magnificent college career for Griner, the second-highest scoring player in the history of women's college basketball. Against a smaller but quicker Louisville team, Baylor needed more offensive production from Griner. The Bears nearly overcame Griner's subpar performance, but came up a point short after a great second half comeback.

Griner averaged 33 points in Baylor's first two games in the tournament. However, she didn't have a field goal until she made a put-back with 15:20 remaining in the second half. She ended the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds, converting only four of her ten shots and being relatively insignificant when you consider her history of dominance.

The Louisville defense collapsed on Griner as she has experienced most of her career, but her usually reliable teammates were unable to make outside shots which ultimately contributed to Baylor's demise.