UConn Women's Basketball Wins 11th Championship

STORRS, CT - The quest for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team on Tuesday in Indianapolis was to win a fourth straight national championship and a record 11th overall.

And UConn did so with a resounding 82-51 win over Syracuse.

After 20 minutes, the Huskies seemed to be ready to fulfill that task with a 50-23 halftime lead.

After three quarters, it was 64-43.

Authorities at the university began preparing for post-game celebrations that could spill well into the night. UConn's win streak is now at 75 games and the Huskies finished the 2015-16 season at 38-0.

In Connecticut, and elsewhere, most eyes were on the Huskies throughout the night as they took the floor against Syracuse in the NCAA tournament final.

Bill Unterstein of Tolland said he was going to tune in from the comfort of his Tolland living room, but anticipated a tense beginning.

"Syracuse is going to come out with a vengeance against Stewie," he said, referring to UConn's All-American leader, Breanna Stewart. "Of course she nixed them to go to UConn."

Maynard Corey, a former Vernon resident who now lives in Las Vegas, said Stewart and the Huskies were all the rage in Sin City.

About 7 miles down Route 195 from Unterstein's place, on UConn's north campus, thousands gathered to watch the game at Gampel Pavilion, UConn's home court.

"It's a little cold tonight," said Tom Breen, UConn's deputy spokesman and special events manager. "We do not see a lot of April nights in the 20s and Gampel is a good place to keep warm tonight and enjoy the game."

It has been a tradition for UConn to open Gampel to the student population for national title games.

The Pregame Buzz

Former UConn great Rebecca Lobo and former Tennessee Great Kara Lawson dared say it in their ESPN commentary. They compared UConn and Coach Geno Auriemma to UCLA and John Wooden. UConn's 11th title would surpass UCLA and give the huskies the outright team record for NCAA Division I national hoop titles.

Vernon's Kristen Galica, watching at home and commenting on Facebook, said, "Breaking records tonight."

The First Quarter

UConn had a three-pass first possession that resulted in a Morgan Tuck free throw to make it 1-0. A three-pointer by Stewart made it 4-0 and another by Moriah Jefferson made it 7-0. UConn ran its way to a 28-13 at the end of the quarter.

"UConn plays hard to please Geno," said retured Greenwich police officer Tommy Keegan. "They know their opponents are outgunned, but they still play hard."

Halftime

UConn was a steamroller in its up-tempo game and a pile-driver in the half-court set and built up a 50-23 lead at the half. Lobo, who also sits in the UConn Board of Trustees, called the Huskies a "juggernaut."

State Rep. Fred Camillo, R-Greenwich, went back to the Wooden thing.

"UConn looks like it is on the way the their fourth title in a row. It is not a stretch to say they are becoming the UCLA of women's basketball and the modern age," he said. "Likewise, Geno Auriemma may be compared, when all is said and done, to the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden."

The biggest threat to UConn seemed to be a cut elbow sustained by Stewart. She was bandaged up and finished the half with 14 points.

The Third Quarter

Syracuse went on a wild 16-0 run to cut the UConn lead to 19, but the Huskies finished the quarter with a pair of transition baskets to finish the quarter up 64-43.

"We knew, at some point it could get like that," Auriemma told ESPN at the quarter. "But we got it back."

The Final Countdown

Auriemma took out the seniors - Tuck, Jefferson and Stewart with 1:46 left to a thunderous applause and their fourth national title. Stewart finished with 24 points and was named the Final Four's most outstanding player for the fourth straight year.

Breen said a celebration on campus is tentatively scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released the following statement in response to UConn's champonship:

“The Huskies have dominated women’s basketball this entire season. What the remarkable women on this team have done is nothing short of extraordinary. I congratulate the entire team on bringing an eleventh NCAA championship title back home to Connecticut. Coach Auriemma has once again done a remarkable job, and he will go down in history as one of the greats. UConn has once again reminded the entire nation why Connecticut continues to be the official home of college basketball. This is an extraordinary moment for our state to celebrate.”

Photo Credit: UConn