Spring Break
Montgomery brings 'Big Three' closer to destiny
Kevin Meacham
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: Sports
For many teams, the road to an NCAA championship is an epic pursuit. Obviously, the 2008-2009 UConn women are not many teams.
For the top-seeded Huskies (35-0) - who advanced to the Trenton Region semifinals by beating No. 8 Florida, 87-59, Tuesday at Gampel Pavilion - the road to St. Louis has seemed more like a nonchalant search for a contact lens, rather than a quest.
The players would never admit it, but this is a season that appears destined to end with coach Geno Auriemma atop a ladder in the Scottrade Center, a pair of scissors in one hand and a net in his other. Yet for a little while, Tuesday's win over the Gators was a reminder that other teams aren't quite passive bystanders. Leading 25-12 despite a sluggish start, UConn allowed Florida to go on an 8-1 run, forcing a frustrated Auriemma into a timeout.
"You know, emotions are high," said forward Maya Moore. "Because we get off to great starts all the time, it seems like, 'What's wrong with them?,' if we don't do that. But that's sometimes how it goes."
Auriemma, who was named the WBCA Division I Coach of the Year Tuesday, is obviously a master motivator and tactician whose credentials speak for themselves. And whatever he said during the timeout - according to Renee Montgomery, it was "Come on, let's go!" - it worked like a charm.
Of course, Auriemma could have been speaking Italian in the huddle and the senior point guard would've got the point.
Soon after, Montgomery completed a spectacular four-point play, knocked down another 3 and made a pair of free throws in the span of 90 seconds. It was a 9-0 run to extend UConn's lead to 15, and putting the Gators down for the count.
Montgomery was merely following the script, in three parts, that has become all too common for the UConn women. First, there's a jump ball. Then, some combination of the Big Three - Montgomery, Maya Moore and Tina Charles - immediately takes over as only they can. Finally, UConn runs away with another lopsided victory. Tuesday was UConn's 25th win of at least 25 points this season.
For the top-seeded Huskies (35-0) - who advanced to the Trenton Region semifinals by beating No. 8 Florida, 87-59, Tuesday at Gampel Pavilion - the road to St. Louis has seemed more like a nonchalant search for a contact lens, rather than a quest.
The players would never admit it, but this is a season that appears destined to end with coach Geno Auriemma atop a ladder in the Scottrade Center, a pair of scissors in one hand and a net in his other. Yet for a little while, Tuesday's win over the Gators was a reminder that other teams aren't quite passive bystanders. Leading 25-12 despite a sluggish start, UConn allowed Florida to go on an 8-1 run, forcing a frustrated Auriemma into a timeout.
"You know, emotions are high," said forward Maya Moore. "Because we get off to great starts all the time, it seems like, 'What's wrong with them?,' if we don't do that. But that's sometimes how it goes."
Auriemma, who was named the WBCA Division I Coach of the Year Tuesday, is obviously a master motivator and tactician whose credentials speak for themselves. And whatever he said during the timeout - according to Renee Montgomery, it was "Come on, let's go!" - it worked like a charm.
Of course, Auriemma could have been speaking Italian in the huddle and the senior point guard would've got the point.
Soon after, Montgomery completed a spectacular four-point play, knocked down another 3 and made a pair of free throws in the span of 90 seconds. It was a 9-0 run to extend UConn's lead to 15, and putting the Gators down for the count.
Montgomery was merely following the script, in three parts, that has become all too common for the UConn women. First, there's a jump ball. Then, some combination of the Big Three - Montgomery, Maya Moore and Tina Charles - immediately takes over as only they can. Finally, UConn runs away with another lopsided victory. Tuesday was UConn's 25th win of at least 25 points this season.
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