BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) – Connecticut senior Barbara Turner spent the wee hours of Saturday morning like most folks in this basketball crazy state – watching the UConn men fight like heck to survive in the NCAA tournament.

Behind the clutch 3-point shooting of Rashad Anderson, the top-seeded men pulled out a jittery 98-92 overtime win over Washington to advance to the Washington Regional final against George Mason on Sunday.

Turner came away inspired.

“It was unbelievable. They have some really tough guys that refuse to lose,” Turner said. “To see some of that senior leadership is obviously something we could take out of that game.”

One thing the men didn’t have, though, was a friendly crowd backing them. But Turner and the second-seeded Huskies (31-4) will Sunday night when they play No. 3 seed Georgia (23-8) in the late semifinal of the Bridgeport Regional.

The Huskies have won 28 straight NCAA games in Connecticut. Their public practice session Saturday afternoon, the last of the day, was greeted with a lengthy standing ovation by the nearly 2,000 fans at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The stars had arrived.

UConn and Georgia are meeting for the first time in the NCAA tournament and fourth overall, with the Huskies holding a 2-1 edge. Turner, an undersized post player at 6-feet, has averaged a team-best 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds over the last two NCAA games. She’ll have her hands full with the Lady Bulldogs’ Tasha Humphrey, a strong 6-3 forward who averaged 19.9 points and 9.2 rebounds a game this season.

“Obviously, we don’t want to go in saying we’re going to stop her,” said Turner, who won an NCAA title with UConn in her first two years. “It’s almost unrealistic because she’s going to get some touches and a lot of opportunities to get a lot of things done. We want to try to limit what she is able to do.”

In the other semifinal, top-seeded Duke (28-3) plays No. 4 Michigan State (24-9) and both have had a rare win over the Huskies on their homecourt over the past two years. The Huskies are the only one of the four with an NCAA title.

UConn’s last march through Bridgeport two years ago eventually landed the Huskies in the Final Four for their fifth NCAA crown. Getting back there again will take more than a big fan base, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.

“Having people in the stands isn’t going to help us guard Tasha Humphrey tomorrow. Having people cheering for us isn’t going to make our zone defense any better,” he said. “You still have to play the game regardless of where it’s played.”

The Lady Bulldogs will try to get past the partisan noise. They’ve been there before. Their Southeastern Conference swings take them to packed arenas in Knoxville and Baton Rouge.

“It isn’t anything we haven’t been exposed to before, but it will be a challenge,” Georgia coach Andy Landers said. “We’ll just have to block it out. This basketball team has the ability to block it out and play.”

The Blue Devils have made it to the round of 16 for the ninth straight year and are meeting the Spartans for the first time in the tournament. Their only matchup was 11 years ago in the title game of the Duke Classic, which the Blue Devils won 67-52.

Duke brings plenty of experience to the postseason, reaching the NCAA tournament 13 times with two Final Four appearances. Seniors Monique Curry, Mistie Williams and Jessica Foley aim to be the group that delivers coach Gail Goestenkors her first national championship.

“Coach G has put so much into this program since she’s been here,” Willliams said. “She’s had so many opportunities. This year is different than the other years I’ve been here because every one on this team is so close. We’re trying to win it for each other.”

Michigan State, last year’s national runner-up, sports the program’s winningest duo in seniors Lindsay Bowen and Liz Shimek with 96 career wins. They started every game of their careers while rewriting the record books. Shimek is the Spartans’ all-time leader in points (1,775 points) and rebounds (1,123) and field goals (717). Bowen holds the 3-point record (292).

“This is a fun time for seniors,” Michigan State coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “I think of it as a new beginning instead of an end. Liz and Lindsay are extraordinary people. What they have given to Michigan State is remarkable.”