The top-ranked Connecticut Huskies made women's college basketball history Monday night — not that you would have known it by watching them.
Tina Charles scored 16 points and Maya Moore added 11 to help UConn win an NCAA record 71st straight game, a 59-44 victory over No. 7 Notre Dame in the semifinals of the Big East tournament.
The Huskies didn't gloat, though. They didn't even celebrate. Just another night's work for coach Geno Auriemma's latest dynasty.
At the final horn they just shook hands with the Irish — the way they have with opponents after nearly every other game during their incredible streak.
"I can't think anything is more important than winning and playing in the Big East championship for these kids," Auriemma said.
UConn surpassed its own mark set from Nov. 9, 2001, to March 11, 2003. Unlike that amazing run, which ended in a loss in the Big East conference tournament semifinals to Villanova, this Huskies team has thoroughly dominated its opponents in every game, winning all of them by double digits.
"After the season, the last game we play we can look back and see what we've done," said Kalana Greene, who scored 15 points. "You don't want to celebrate about wins. We don't plan on our season being over any time soon."
The Huskies are focused on bigger goals — not just winning a 16th Big East conference championship but also a seventh national title. Connecticut (32-0) will face No. 9 West Virginia on Tuesday night.
BIG EAST SEMIS: No. 9 West Virginia subdues Rutgers
Even top teams haven't posed much of a challenge for the Huskies since they beat Georgia tech to start this run on Nov. 16, 2008.
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The Connecticut Huskies haven't lost a game since falling to Stanford 82-73 in the national semifinals of the 2008 NCAA tournament. Longest winning streaks in Division I women's basketball history:
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