UConn tops Baylor barely

HARTFORD, Conn. – Maya Moore missed, and suddenly Connecticut’s grip on women’s college basketball was in jeopardy.

Baylor had one more shot to topple the No. 1 Huskies and end their record winning streak. But the No. 2 Lady Bears simply ran out of time, their last try a little too short and a little too late.

Coach Geno Auriemma and UConn rallied from a late eight-point deficit and held on for their 80th straight victory, 65-64 Tuesday night – by far the toughest test since the streak started exactly two years ago.

Showing they could win the close ones, too, the Huskies overcame 6-foot-8 Baylor star Brittney Griner and a 56-48 gap with 6:42 to go. They moved within eight victories of matching the 88-game string put together by UCLA’s men’s teams in the 1970s.

“I thought we played great for long stretches. Obviously, Baylor is a great team and they made their run,” Auriemma said. “Then the improbable happened, people other than Maya began scoring.

“They don’t know what it’s like to come back from a run.”

It’s true. The Huskies have spent the last two seasons rolling over every opponent, waiting for a real challenge.

They got one Tuesday night.

Moore scored 30 points, but it was freshman Bria Hartley who saved the Huskies after they wasted a 15-point lead early in the second half.

Moore missed from the corner with 6 seconds left as the shot clock went off.

Having just used its last timeout, Baylor had no choice once Melissa Jones grabbed the rebound. The Bears had to get to the basket.

Odyssey Sims brought the ball up the court but her 30-foot attempt was nowhere close.

“Do you see us crying? Could we have won the game?” Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. “I learned I have a talented basketball team,” she said.

Auriemma covered his head with hands as he went to meet Mulkey at midcourt.

“I think there’s always something cool when you do something for the first time with a group of people,” Auriemma said.

Tiffany Hayes added 16 points for Connecticut (2-0). Griner scored 19 points and had nine blocks for the Lady Bears (3-1), but was 5 for 13 from the free-throw line – including some key misses late.