Huskies prep for encore

SAN ANTONIO – Maya Moore and Connecticut have had one goal in mind since winning the national championship last season: Do it again.

The Huskies (37-0) have met every challenge during their remarkable two-year unbeaten run, but they’ve never faced one as unique as 6-foot-8 phenom Brittney Griner.

UConn, which stands two games away from becoming the first women’s team with consecutive undefeated seasons, will play Griner and Baylor in the second game of the national semifinals tonight.

“Ever since we got back to school last year that’s all we’ve been focused on,” coach Geno Auriemma said.

If UConn wins, the Huskies will take on Stanford or Oklahoma in the championship game Tuesday night. Either way, their final opponent would be a team they’ve already beaten this season.

Over the last two seasons, UConn has won an NCAA-record 76 straight games, all by double figures. It has looked even more dominant in this tournament, cruising through the first four rounds with a 47-point average margin of victory.

There’s a slew of staggering numbers connected to UConn’s streak but just check out its defense during the 2010 tourney. Already the top defensive team in the country, it has allowed just 40 points a game and held teams to nearly 26 percent shooting from the field.

The Huskies, seeking their seventh national championship, are on pace to shatter NCAA tournament defensive records.

“At this point, it’s not a whole lot of physical changes, it’s all in your mind,” Moore said. “It’s all focus and knowing your scouting report. Studying your opponent and knowing what you needed to do. We pick it up in March and April.”

Baylor also has been shutting down teams with Griner in the middle. She’s already set the NCAA tournament record for blocks with 35 through the first four games.

She broke the single-game mark with 14 against Georgetown in the second round.

No wonder the Bears have held their opponents to just less than 35 percent shooting.

“If she’s not blocking a shot, she’s altering it, or she’s altering a play that’s set for an opposing team just because of her big presence in the middle,” guard Melissa Jones said.

While most of the attention is on the imposing center matchup of Griner and The Associated Press player of the year Tina Charles, Baylor will need to find a way to stop Moore. The sensational junior is averaging 21.8 points while playing just half the game. She’s shooting 64 percent from the field, including a mind-boggling 70 percent on 3-pointers.

“Something about the tournament gets me excited,” Moore said. “I’m playing free right now and not trying to do a whole of thinking. I’m really comfortable right now.”