The Connecticut Huskies still rule the women’s college basketball world, and by a margin that’s almost incomprehensible.

The Huskies added to one of the greatest dynasties in the history of any sport at the expense of Syracuse University on Tuesday night, crushing the Orange 82-51 to win its fourth straight title.

All-time collegiate great Breanna Stewart led the way for UConn with 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists en route to winning a Most Outstanding Performer of the Final Four for a record fourth time.

“This is when it’s most exciting,” Stewart said. “This is when you’re going after championships.”

The former Cicero-North Syracuse star claimed four titles with the Huskies and was also a three-time All-American.

The title was the 11th for Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. That breaks a tie with former UCLA men’s coach John Wooden for the most titles in Division I basketball.

The loss shattered an otherwise landmark season for the Orange. Syracuse reached its first Final Four ever, finishing with a program record 30 wins. Before this season the Orange had two NCAA Tournament wins in its history; this post-season, it had five.

UConn, meanwhile laid waste to a Final Four that was supposed to be a parity parity with SU, Oregon State and Washington reaching that level for the first time. The Huskies finished 38-0 to extent their winning streak to 75 games, second-longest in NCAA history.

The Huskies trailed for a total of 44 seconds in the entire tournament and won its two Final Four contests by a total of 60 points.

UConn scoffed at what Syracuse built its season around — forcing more turnovers than any team in the country and demoralizing foes with threes.

The Huskies also ruled the paint, out-rebounding SU 43-27 and winning the points in the paint battle 36-22. The Orange was 2-19 from three-point range and forced 17 turnovers.

UConn put the game away by the time the first quarter was over. The Orange understandably looked flustered on the big stage and trailed 28-13 after 10 minutes of uncharacteristic mistakes and badly missed shots. Sensing the putaway, the Huskies bore in for a 50-23 edge at intermission.

The Orange sprinkled in a little drama with a 16-0 run in the third to pull within 60-43, but the poised Huskies barely blinked in stopping that streak and rebuilding its championship cushion.

SOURCE: Lindsay Kramer
Syracuse.com