The numbers tell the story: In eight NCAA Championship games, the Huskies are 8-0. Freshman Breanna Stewart ’13 (CLAS) scored 23 points against Louisville last night as UConn won its eighth NCAA Championship 93-60 in New Orleans. It is the largest winning margin in a women’s national championship game.
With the victory, Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma tied the championship record of former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, whom he described as “the greatest women’s basketball coach who has ever lived” during a post-game interview on ESPN. Having led the Huskies to a 90-game winning streak in 2010 that surpassed the 88-game unbeaten streak of legendary coach John Wooden of UCLA, Auriemma now is two titles from Wooden’s record of 10 national championships.
Stewart was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 NCAA Championship, scoring a freshman record 104 points during the tournament. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis ’15 (CLAS) scored 18 points, Bria Hartley ’14 (CLAS) had 13 points and Stefanie Dolson ’14 (CLAS) scored 12 points. In her final game, senior Kelly Faris ’13 (CLAS) had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.
The Huskies broke the game open with a 19-0 run in the first half, holding Louisville scoreless for nearly five minutes, and limiting the Cardinals to one player in double figures for the game.
Following a short public event at Bradley Airport when the team returns from New Orleans this afternoon, there will be a National Champions “Victory Lap” around the campus at approximately 5:15 p.m. For details go here.