Spring Break
Two different personalities yield one championship
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: March Madness
ST. LOUIS - Maya Moore and Tina Charles were both high school All-Americans, however, the comparisons between the two stop there.
Soft-spoken but confident, poised is one of the most commonly used adjectives for Moore, the recipient of every major award in women's college basketball.
The rings she owns may say more about the All-American. On her right ring finger, she wears the 2008 Final Four UConn women's basketball ring, a silver band. On her left middle finger is a band engraved with "Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength."
"You don't get to the point where we are without having really good players that play really well. And we have that," said coach Geno Auriemma. "And I think Maya's a perfect example of why we're here."
Never short on emotion, Charles is the one to say hello and wish everyone a good night at press conferences.
For some players, having a younger teammate receive the accolades may breed jealousy. Indeed, rumors swirled about tension between the two while playing in high school. All Auriemma said was "whatever happened in Colorado Springs with USA Basketball was more Tina-related than Maya-related."
"We weren't teammates really, yet," Moore said. "After I got to know her more and spend more time with her - she's a very caring person and loves her teammates and would do anything for her teammates. So once I got to see more of that side of her, it got easier to open up and get close."
"[Moore's] a great person and she's always there," Charles said.
The two moved forward, now sharing an apartment. In fact, Charles gave Moore a bear hug after her AP Player of the Year award. The gesture is a sign of Charles' maturation, which steadily grew this season, Auriemma said.
Charles said the defining moment in their relationship came at the Athletes in Action camp in Colorado 2008. There, she, Moore, Kaili McLaren and assistant coach Jamelle Elliott spent a week attending religious services.
Soft-spoken but confident, poised is one of the most commonly used adjectives for Moore, the recipient of every major award in women's college basketball.
The rings she owns may say more about the All-American. On her right ring finger, she wears the 2008 Final Four UConn women's basketball ring, a silver band. On her left middle finger is a band engraved with "Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength."
"You don't get to the point where we are without having really good players that play really well. And we have that," said coach Geno Auriemma. "And I think Maya's a perfect example of why we're here."
Never short on emotion, Charles is the one to say hello and wish everyone a good night at press conferences.
For some players, having a younger teammate receive the accolades may breed jealousy. Indeed, rumors swirled about tension between the two while playing in high school. All Auriemma said was "whatever happened in Colorado Springs with USA Basketball was more Tina-related than Maya-related."
"We weren't teammates really, yet," Moore said. "After I got to know her more and spend more time with her - she's a very caring person and loves her teammates and would do anything for her teammates. So once I got to see more of that side of her, it got easier to open up and get close."
"[Moore's] a great person and she's always there," Charles said.
The two moved forward, now sharing an apartment. In fact, Charles gave Moore a bear hug after her AP Player of the Year award. The gesture is a sign of Charles' maturation, which steadily grew this season, Auriemma said.
Charles said the defining moment in their relationship came at the Athletes in Action camp in Colorado 2008. There, she, Moore, Kaili McLaren and assistant coach Jamelle Elliott spent a week attending religious services.
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