Spring Break
Undefeated regular-season champs
Kevin Meacham
Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: Sports
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Renee Montgomery had to know that Rutgers would do everything they could to make No. 1 UConn's pursuit of a perfect regular season difficult. So the senior point guard calmly rattled off the game's first 11 points.
It was a blow that left the Scarlet Knights stunned, but not beaten. But Montgomery scored 23 points and the Huskies held off a furious second-half rally to defeat Rutgers, 69-59 in front of 7,151 at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.
"I definitely think we did get a fight," Montgomery said. "We know when we come to [their arena], their crowd, and how they play at home, you know it's going to be a tough game."
For UConn (30-0, 16-0 Big East), the win over their rivals clinched its second undefeated Big East campaign in three years, and its fifth undefeated march through regular season since 1994-95.
"In our league, to win every game, that's pretty good," said UConn coach Geno Auriemma. "And I'm proud of the fact that for the most part, our guys show up every game and they play and we try to play the game as well as it can be played. If you ask any coach in America, it's hard to do that."
Montgomery, Tina Charles (14 points, seven rebounds) and Maya Moore (12 points, six rebounds) each scored in double figures for the Huskies, who led by 16 points at halftime and shot 55 percent from the field, but still were held to their lowest point total this season.
Behind stifling defense, an untimely technical on Auriemma and an inspired 24-point performance by Rutgers center Kia Vaughn on her senior night, the Scarlet Knights climbed within six points in the final minute. But Moore hit four free throws down the stretch to provide the winning margin.
The Huskies jumped on top early, opening the game on a 21-5 run keyed by Montgomery's 11 points and four each from Charles and Tiffany Hayes.
"I was open," Montgomery said. "My teammates screened for me, sometimes I'd just be dribbling and someone would get hit with a screen and I'd be open."
It was a blow that left the Scarlet Knights stunned, but not beaten. But Montgomery scored 23 points and the Huskies held off a furious second-half rally to defeat Rutgers, 69-59 in front of 7,151 at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.
"I definitely think we did get a fight," Montgomery said. "We know when we come to [their arena], their crowd, and how they play at home, you know it's going to be a tough game."
For UConn (30-0, 16-0 Big East), the win over their rivals clinched its second undefeated Big East campaign in three years, and its fifth undefeated march through regular season since 1994-95.
"In our league, to win every game, that's pretty good," said UConn coach Geno Auriemma. "And I'm proud of the fact that for the most part, our guys show up every game and they play and we try to play the game as well as it can be played. If you ask any coach in America, it's hard to do that."
Montgomery, Tina Charles (14 points, seven rebounds) and Maya Moore (12 points, six rebounds) each scored in double figures for the Huskies, who led by 16 points at halftime and shot 55 percent from the field, but still were held to their lowest point total this season.
Behind stifling defense, an untimely technical on Auriemma and an inspired 24-point performance by Rutgers center Kia Vaughn on her senior night, the Scarlet Knights climbed within six points in the final minute. But Moore hit four free throws down the stretch to provide the winning margin.
The Huskies jumped on top early, opening the game on a 21-5 run keyed by Montgomery's 11 points and four each from Charles and Tiffany Hayes.
"I was open," Montgomery said. "My teammates screened for me, sometimes I'd just be dribbling and someone would get hit with a screen and I'd be open."
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