TRENTON, N.J. — All season long Connecticut has been on cruise control, dominating opponents with double-digit victory margins.

Yesterday was no different; it just took a while.

When the Huskies found themselves down eight points — their biggest deficit of the year — they didn't panic. Instead, they turned up the defense, forced turnovers and outscored fourth-seeded California during a crucial stretch to advance to their 14th regional final in the last 16 seasons.

Freshman Tiffany Hayes scored a career-high 28 points as the undefeated Huskies beat California, 77-53. The Huskies will face Arizona State tomorrow night with a trip to the Final Four at stake.

"As time went on the true character of this team came out," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "I love the way we handled the game in the second half."

UConn (36-0) continued its march toward the school's third perfect season. The Huskies have entered the NCAAs unbeaten three other times. Connecticut went on to win the national championship in 1995 and 2002. In 1996-97, the Huskies lost to Tennessee in the regional final.

Ashley Walker scored 21 to lead California (27-7), which was making its first trip to the regionals after blowing out Fresno State and Virginia in the first two rounds.

Hayes finished 9-for-10 from the field, easily surpassing her previous career high of 23 set against Louisville. She also had seven assists and five rebounds.

"Tiffany just had an all-around great game," said Maya Moore, who added 22 points. "I was looking at the stat line, and I didn't realize she had seven assists and zero turnovers. She led us tonight with her confidence."

Moore is now seven points short of breaking the UConn single-season record of 694 set by Kara Wolters in 1995-96.

Connecticut had dismantled opponents this season, including beating seven ranked teams by an average of 31 points.

ARIZONA STATE 84, TEXAS A&M 69

TRENTON, N.J. — The expected defensive battle turned into a shootout, and Arizona State had a little too much for Texas A&M.

The Sun Devils played a near perfect game in upsetting the second-seeded Aggies, 84-69, advancing to the second regional final in school history.

"We're a program with a team that doesn't have a lot of swag but has a quiet confidence," Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "We believe in ourselves. We can outwork teams. We're a great basketball team. I felt like at the beginning of the year we can win championships."

Arizona State (26-8) shot a season-high 62 percent, got points from nine players, including 22 by Briann January, and did all the little things — winning the hustle plays, making the smart plays and even frustrating Texas A&M with four or five baskets at the shot clock.

Danielle Orsillo added 15 points and Lauren Lacey had 14 for the Sun Devils.

Tanisha Smith had 19 points and Takia Starks added 18 for the Aggies (27-8), who were looking to advance to the regional final for the second straight year. Danielle Gant added 13 points for Texas A&M, which shot 48 percent from the field.

PURDUE 67, RUTGERS 61

OKLAHOMA CITY — Lakisha Freeman scored 18 points, and sixth-seeded Purdue held off a late rally to beat Rutgers and reach the round of eight in the NCAA tournament.

FahKara Malone hit a key basket in the final minute and Jodi Howell added the clinching free throws with 6.2 seconds left for Purdue (25-10), which became the second No. 6 seed this year to reach the Elite Eight, joining Arizona State.

"We play our best basketball when we are relaxed and not tense and not worrying about things," said Purdue forward Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, who had 13 points and eight rebounds. "We had nothing to lose here, so we had to go and play our hearts out. And whoever plays the best wins the game, and we're playing our best basketball right now."

Purdue, which shot 52.9 percent from the field, will make its eighth appearance in a regional final. The Boilermakers reached three Final Fours, winning the 1999 national title.

Brittany Ray scored 19 points and Epiphanny Prince added 15 for seventh-seeded Rutgers (21-13).

OKLAHOMA 70, PITTSBURGH 59

OKLAHOMA CITY — Whitney Hand had career-highs of 22 points and eight rebounds, and the top-seeded Sooners rolled to the regional finals for only the second time in school history.

Oklahoma (31-5) put the game away with a 20-2 second-half surge that included a wild, right-handed scoop shot by Hand that bounded its way into the basket.

"I don't think it's about what I did. I think that we all had a goal coming into this game. It was a goal of making it to the Elite Eight," said Hand, a freshman guard. "No one on the court had made it there yet, including myself, so it wasn't like any of us were really in a familiar position."

The Sooners were hardly bothered by foul trouble that plagued Courtney Paris, who narrowly missed her 127th career double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Shavonte Zellous scored 18 points on 7-for-20 shooting to lead Pitt.