2008 Woodie Awards
Moore's Quick Start Buries Texas
Women's Basketball
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
BRIDGEPORT- No one seemed to do more damage to No. 8 seed Texas than Maya Moore in the Huskies 89-55 win Tuesday night over the Longhorns.
Her first NCAA tournament game performance Sunday may not have been the one that people were looking for, even though she did score 17 points, but the second time around was the charm for UConn's regular season leading scorer.
In the first 11 minutes of the game, Moore had 16 points. She hit four consecutive 3s over a 2:05 stretch in the first half. It seemed that each time the Longhorns left her open for a shot, they paid for it, as she went 10-for-15 from the field and finished with 24 points, which tied the record for most points by a freshman in the NCAA Tournament, set by Diana Taurasi in 2001.
"Usually when that happens, I'm kind of just in a zone," she said. "That's when I think I'm at my best, when I'm not really thinking too much, just playing and taking the shots when I'm open."
Moore also got back on defense and had 12 rebounds, showing many people why head coach Geno Auriemma considers her one of the country's top 10 players. At one point, the Longhorns had a breakaway lay-up, an almost guaranteed two points to put on the board - until Moore sprinted down the court and blocked the shot of Erneisha Bailey, as both Bailey and the ball went flying into the stands.
"It was fun, I think because I got the block it was even more fun," she said. "I was just trying to sprint my hardest to make it there. I jumped up with my left. I'm just glad I saw the ball go out of bounds with me."
The UConn fans seemed to love every minute of it, rewarding her with a deafening roar of applause and cheers. Tina Charles said that her performance in the first half "sets the tone" for the rest of the team and that the team is looking to take the momentum forward.
"She played great," said Renee Montgomery. "Not only on the offensive end, but she had two or three key blocks that changed the momentum again. So, she hustles all the time and her work ethic is incredible. It shows up in the game."
Her first NCAA tournament game performance Sunday may not have been the one that people were looking for, even though she did score 17 points, but the second time around was the charm for UConn's regular season leading scorer.
In the first 11 minutes of the game, Moore had 16 points. She hit four consecutive 3s over a 2:05 stretch in the first half. It seemed that each time the Longhorns left her open for a shot, they paid for it, as she went 10-for-15 from the field and finished with 24 points, which tied the record for most points by a freshman in the NCAA Tournament, set by Diana Taurasi in 2001.
"Usually when that happens, I'm kind of just in a zone," she said. "That's when I think I'm at my best, when I'm not really thinking too much, just playing and taking the shots when I'm open."
Moore also got back on defense and had 12 rebounds, showing many people why head coach Geno Auriemma considers her one of the country's top 10 players. At one point, the Longhorns had a breakaway lay-up, an almost guaranteed two points to put on the board - until Moore sprinted down the court and blocked the shot of Erneisha Bailey, as both Bailey and the ball went flying into the stands.
"It was fun, I think because I got the block it was even more fun," she said. "I was just trying to sprint my hardest to make it there. I jumped up with my left. I'm just glad I saw the ball go out of bounds with me."
The UConn fans seemed to love every minute of it, rewarding her with a deafening roar of applause and cheers. Tina Charles said that her performance in the first half "sets the tone" for the rest of the team and that the team is looking to take the momentum forward.
"She played great," said Renee Montgomery. "Not only on the offensive end, but she had two or three key blocks that changed the momentum again. So, she hustles all the time and her work ethic is incredible. It shows up in the game."
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