After getting to an uncharacteristically sluggish start, the UCONN Lady Huskies found their groove on the way to yet another national title, beating Stanford 53-47.
Stanford came far closer than any other opponent to breaking a winning streak that now encompasses 78 games and two straight unbeaten seasons capped by national titles. That makes seven national championships for UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who will coach the U.S. women's Olympic team in 2012.
It sure didn't look like it was headed that way in the first half, as UConn scored just 12 points before a perplexed crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
But in the end, it was too much Moore.
Maya Moore.
The smooth-as-satin junior forward took the game into her own hands early in the second half.
She yanked down a rebound and hit a turnaround jump shot. She blocked a shot and hit another jumper. She fed teammate Kalana Greene at the basket to start a three-point play. Then she hit another jumper. Then a layup.
The burst took UConn from a 20-12 disadvantage to a 27-22 lead in a four-minute stretch that essentially decided the national championship.
The Huskies rode that momentum to a 16-point lead, then held off a late Stanford rally to win 53-47. It was the first time in the 78-game streak that UConn did NOT win by a double-digit margin.
Whispers around the web are quoting John Wooden as saying winning 78 games in a row just isn't right.