Spring Break
GOING OUT IN STYLE
Seniors end careers as NCAA champions
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Sports
ST. LOUIS - Tuesday night was the last chance for Renee Montgomery, Tahirah Williams and Cassie Kerns to don a UConn women's basketball uniform.
Montgomery made sure not to take that for granted, as part of a team that never won a game by less than 10 - the first in NCAA history.
The seniors were ready to celebrate.
"It means I've never lost my senior year; always an amazing feeling," Williams said. "I still can't believe it. I mean, I can believe it but it's crazy, it's just really crazy."
"I think we can actually finally breathe," Montgomery said.
Though she started out the game with several turnovers and rushed shots, she recovered, breaking out exactly at the moment the team needed her to - which has been the case for much of the season.
"I think it started with Renee Montgomery," Moore said. "She is our captain and however she goes is going to so greatly affect how the rest of us go, and how our attitudes are to a certain extent."
Perhaps none bigger was her first 3-pointer with 4:29 left in the first. That basket put the team up by nine.
When she left the game, Montgomery got a huge ovation from the crowd, a huge hug from head coach Geno Auriemma and a huge lift from assistant coach Shea Ralph.
"That girl, she's just amazing. From beginning to end… in the beginning, I didn't really understand Renee and I thought she was a little cruel 'cause she always used to pull jokes on me," Williams said. "But it's all in fun. She's a fun person. That just describes her. She's just fun, willing to do anything and just, she's lively. She's just amazing."
Four years ago, after winning three state high school championships, Montgomery walked away empty-handed.
This time, she walked away a champion.
Let's see what a
Championship team looks like
Last year, when UConn played at Louisville, the team decided to spend another day there since it was traveling to Syracuse. So when the Huskies practiced at Louisville's facility, head coach Jeff Walz asked head coach Geno Auriemma if his team could watch.
Montgomery made sure not to take that for granted, as part of a team that never won a game by less than 10 - the first in NCAA history.
The seniors were ready to celebrate.
"It means I've never lost my senior year; always an amazing feeling," Williams said. "I still can't believe it. I mean, I can believe it but it's crazy, it's just really crazy."
"I think we can actually finally breathe," Montgomery said.
Though she started out the game with several turnovers and rushed shots, she recovered, breaking out exactly at the moment the team needed her to - which has been the case for much of the season.
"I think it started with Renee Montgomery," Moore said. "She is our captain and however she goes is going to so greatly affect how the rest of us go, and how our attitudes are to a certain extent."
Perhaps none bigger was her first 3-pointer with 4:29 left in the first. That basket put the team up by nine.
When she left the game, Montgomery got a huge ovation from the crowd, a huge hug from head coach Geno Auriemma and a huge lift from assistant coach Shea Ralph.
"That girl, she's just amazing. From beginning to end… in the beginning, I didn't really understand Renee and I thought she was a little cruel 'cause she always used to pull jokes on me," Williams said. "But it's all in fun. She's a fun person. That just describes her. She's just fun, willing to do anything and just, she's lively. She's just amazing."
Four years ago, after winning three state high school championships, Montgomery walked away empty-handed.
This time, she walked away a champion.
Let's see what a
Championship team looks like
Last year, when UConn played at Louisville, the team decided to spend another day there since it was traveling to Syracuse. So when the Huskies practiced at Louisville's facility, head coach Jeff Walz asked head coach Geno Auriemma if his team could watch.
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