by David F.P. [Modest Image Gallery]

HARTFORD, CT-It was a closer game than UConn is used to this season but the Huskies eventually pulled out to a lead on Notre Dame and didn’t look back to win their Big East semifinal game and set a new NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball record by winning their 71st straight game. Due to it being a tournament game there was little room for celebration but the fans did cheer quite a lot as the team made their way off the court, and subsequently on their return later during the WVU/Rutgers game. It was bittersweet however as fans waited for news on Caroline Doty who had been laying motionless on the court with less than a minute to play and the game in hand. She eventually would stand up and be helped off the court, but for a few tense minutes, fans went between concern and also anger that a foul had not been called on Notre Dame.

The crowd could have been bigger but since it was a tournament game that did affect who had tickets to where, still the fans in attendance were loud and started getting into it especially once UConn settled in and took control. The first part of the game was far more nerve racking as the two teams fought it out and the Huskies missed a bunch of shots and gave up some turnovers. It wasn’t a big issue during the second half though and the fans were able to relax a bit and enjoy. There were many big plays though perhaps one of the most memorable was Kalana Greene falling back towards the floor and letting it go only to score the basket anyway.

UConn gets West Virginia tomorrow in the Big East Championship.