www.UConnHuskies.com Womens Basketball

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (March 25, 2008) – Freshman Maya Moore (Lawrenceville, Ga.) recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 24 points and 12 rebounds as the No. 1 seed University of Connecticut women's basketball team earned a trip to the Sweet 16 by defeating No. 8 seed Texas 89-55 in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

With the win, UConn improves to 34-1 overall and advances to the Greensboro Regional Semifinal Round where it will face No. 5 seed Old Dominion on Sunday, March 30 at the Greensboro Coliseum at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN. With the loss, Texas closes out its season at 22-13.

With her 24 points scored, Moore ties the UConn freshman record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game, matching Diana Taurasi's 24 points vs. N.C. State in the 2001 Regional Semifinals. Her performance was also the first double-double by a UConn freshman in an NCAA Tournament game since Barbara Turner's 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. Boston University in 2003. Moore finished the game shooting 9-for-14 from the floor as she added three blocked shots and two assists.

The UConn win also marks UConn’s 34th victory this season, its highest single-season win total since the 2002-03 campaign when the Huskies posted 37 victories. The Huskies advance to the NCAA Regional for the 15th consecutive season and 16th in program's history.

UConn began the game with a 13-2 run, as it shot .706 from the field (12-for-17) in the first 8:25 of regulation. With 5:18 on the clock, junior Renee Montgomery (St. Albans, W. Va.) dodged two defenders to make a lay-up and give the Huskies their largest lead of the half at 21.

Moore finished the first 20 minutes of play 6-of-8 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc for 16 first-half points. The Huskies shot .677 (21-of-31) from the field in the first half while holding Texas to just .345 (13-of-36) from the floor.

The Huskies went on a 21-6 run in a 9:53 span to start the second half and held the Longhorns to just eight shot attempts during that span. UConn recorded its largest lead of the game at 37 with 3:28 left on the clock as sophomore Meghan Gardler (Springfield, Pa.) hit a deep three pointer to add to the UConn advantage.

Montgomery finished the night with 17 points and five assists for her 26th game with double-figure points this season and her 24th over the last 26 games overall. Ketia Swanier (Columbus, Ga.) recorded seven assists for the Huskies to move her career tally to 466, which ranks eighth in program history.

Senior Charde Houston's (San Diego, Calif.) 10 points marked the fourth game that she had registered double-figure points over the Huskies' five postseason games this season. Tina Charles' (Jamaica, N.Y.) 15 points marked her 27th game with double-figure points this season and the 50th of her career. Brittany Hunter (Columbus, Ohio) added 10 points for the Huskies in 13 minutes played.

With tonight's victory, UConn's record improves to 16-2 in NCAA Tournament second round games and also move their mark to 63-15 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.

- UConn advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinal round for the 15th consecutive season following its NCAA second round win over Texas.

- UConn advances to the Greensboro Regional Semifinals which are scheduled for Sunday, March 30 at the Greensboro Coliseum where they will face No. 5 seed Old Dominion seed Virginia.

- UConn improves to 63-15 all-time in NCAA Tournament play (over 20 appearances) following tonight’s second round win over Texas.

- UConn extends its current winning streak to 13 consecutive games following today’s NCAA first round win over Texas.

- UConn has now won its last 23 overall games played in the state of Connecticut.

- UConn moves to 16-2 overall in the second round of the NCAA Tournament following tonight’s win over Texas and has won its last 15 straight.

- UConn has won 28 of its last 30 NCAA Tournament games overall following tonight’s win over Texas.

- UConn improves to 47-10 all-time in NCAA Tournament games when it received an automatic berth.

- UConn improves to 45-6 all-time when playing in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed.

- UConn has won 17 of its last 18 NCAA Tournament games when playing as a No. 1 seed.

- UConn improves to 35-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament games played in the state of Connecticut.

- UConn moves to 4-1 all-time against opponents from the Big XII in NCAA Tournament following tonight’s win over Texas.

- UConn improves to 4-0 in the all-time series with Texas, including a 2-0 mark in NCAA Tournament games.

- Tonight’s win marks UConn’s 34th this season - its highest single-season win total since the 2002-03 campaign - when it posted 37 victories.

- UConn improves to 222-3 in its last 225 games against non-ranked opponents since Jan. 31, 1999.

- UConn has now won its last 87 games overall against non-ranked opponents, following tonight’s NCAA second round win over Texas.

- UConn's 48 points in the first half marks the highest first half scoring total for the Huskies in a second round NCAA Tournament game - besting the previous best of 46 points vs. Iowa in 2002.

- Maya Moore's 24 points and 12 rebounds marked her 10th double-double this season - second-most ever by a freshman in UConn and BIG EAST history.

- Brittany Hunter's 10 points marked her second straight game with double-figure points and her seventh this season.

- Renee Montgomery's 17 points marked her 26th game with double-figure points this season and her 24th over the last 26 games overall.

- Maya Moore's 24 points marked her 12th game with 20 or more points this season.

- Tina Charles' 15 points marked her 27th game with double-figure points this season and the 50th of her career.

- Maya Moore's 24 points marked the most by a UConn player in an NCAA Tournament game since Barbara Turner scored 31 vs. Georgia in 2006 in the regional semifinal.

- UConn out-scored Texas 21-6 over the initial 9:53 of the second half.

- Maya Moore's 24 points and 12 rebounds marked the first double-double by a UConn freshman in an NCAA Tournament game since Barbara Turner's 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. Boston University in 2003 in the East Regional First Round.

- Maya Moore's 24 points tied the UConn freshman record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game - matching Diana Taurasi's 24 points vs. N.C. State in the 2001 Regional Semifinals.

Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Geno Auriemma

Opening Statement
“We came into this game thinking it was hard to defend some of the stuff they do. We were concerned about their rebounding and athleticism. But the first 10 minutes of the game set the tone. I’m just glad we have the chance to go back to the regionals.”

On the start of the game
“We talked about it in the locker room. We can’t worry about what they do. What we can do is worry about how we pick up on defense, get out in transition and force the other team to respond. We really did better than I thought we’d do. The backcourt has played a lot of minutes for us but they’ve been competitive.”

On Maya Moore’s first 10 minutes of the game
“I don’t know how to explain it. We actually get upset when she doesn’t make a shot that’s how confident we are. We let her hear about it when she misses. When she moves around, she’s like a cat. When she gets the ball in good position, it’s like she’s in the zone.”

On Charde Houston’s game tonight
“The one thing she’s done well the last few games is keep her head in and be calm. She had some school work to take care of on Monday and came back and had a great game.”

Junior guard Renee Montgomery

On the start of the game
“It’s huge. We wanted to come out strong and set the tempo. We wanted to be aggressive.”

Senior guard Ketia Swanier

On Maya Moore’s play
“She was herself tonight. She got open on the backdoor cuts and hit the open shots. She was herself.”

Win and Advance!! Huskies Top Texas 89-55 To Advance to Greensboro UConn to meet Old Dominion on Sunday, March 30 in NCAA Regional Semifinals at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN

Win and Advance!!
Huskies Top Texas 89-55 To Advance to Greensboro
UConn to meet Old Dominion on Sunday, March 30 in NCAA Regional Semifinals
at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN