UConn women look ahead after streak (finally) ends

Associated Press

Coach Geno Auriemma always preached that championships are what his Connecticut Huskies chase, not streaks.

With UConn’s NCAA-record 90-game run over, Auriemma can get back to his primary goal — winning a third straight national title.

“It’s where we go from here that will define this team more than the 90 wins,” Auriemma said. “How we play going forward will be this team’s defining moment. The 90 wins just belonged to a few of these guys. What happens for the rest of the season will belong to them. And I am excited about that.”

Star Maya Moore, who has been the constant for UConn throughout the streak, looked ordinary for one of the rare times in her career. The school’s all-time scoring leader was held to just 14 points by Stanford’s suffocating defense in Thursday night’s 71-59 loss. She settled to shoot 3-pointers — taking 11 of them — even when Auriemma pleaded with her to take it to the basket.

With her team trailing by six late in the game, Moore finally got to the free throw line for the first time and came up short — missing her only attempt. The normally poised senior was visibly upset after the game, losing for only the third time in her stellar career.

No doubt she’ll use this as motivation, just as she did the last time her team was beaten — 998 days ago in the NCAA semifinals by Stanford.

After a cross-country flight home, the Huskies will have six days to prepare for their next opponent — Villanova. The Wildcats will attempt to end two more UConn streaks on Jan. 5. The Huskies haven’t lost at home in 69 straight games and not lost consecutive games in nearly 17 years.