Cardinal rule!!

There's still a winning streak going on and a certain #23 made sure that it would continue.  I'm talking about the Stanford Cardinal home game win streak at Maples Pavilion, which now stands at 53.  The #23 I'm talking about is senior guard Jeanette Pohlen, who had a game high 31 points, while helping the Cardinal end UConn's 90 game win streak.  Something had to give.




Jeanette Pohlen: the other # 23

Stanford played like a unit, out-hustling and out-rebounding the Huskies and making sure that it was going to be anyone else but Maya Moore to carry UConn to victory.  Maya Moore went 5-15 from the floor for 14 points and while she got some help from Bria Hartley (14 pts) and Kayla Farris (19 pts), it still wasn't enough to extend the streak.  UConn never even led at any point in this game; first time in five years that happened.


UConn's win streak started after a loss to Stanford in the Final Four back in 2008.  During the 90 game win streak, they beat Stanford 3 times including the last two Final Four meetings;  the national semis in 2009 and the national title game in 2010.  The other meeting was in Hartford, CT, where Stanford led at halftime but couldn't keep up with the Huskies in the second half.


Maya Moore: missing in action

Personally, I wouldn't call this Stanford win an upset.  Stanford are a legit program and have the ability to recruit on a national scale just like Connecticut.  They have enough talent to be able to win games just like these and so their win shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone. 


What this game proves however, is that UConn will only go as far as Maya Moore will take them.  Rarely does she ever have an off night, but when she does, there's no Tina Charles or Renee Montgomery to help pick up the slack.  She is in a very similar situation to Diana Taurasi, who willed UConn to national titles in 2003 & 2004 and helped extend a winning streak that would climax at 70 games. 




Diana Taurasi: UConn legend

Diana Taurasi was a key contributor on the 2002 national championship team, but it was Sue Bird and Swin Cash who were headliners that season.  Upon their departure, the onus fell on Taurasi to carry the team and she delivered; leading to Geno Auriemma's famous quote, "We have Diana, and you don't", in response to a reporter's question as to why he felt UConn would win the 2004 title.  Taurasi not only established herself as a UConn legend, but as one the great ones to have played the women's game.


Maya Moore has already passed Taurasi on the all-time scoring chart and is on pace to set the record for most career points at Connecticut; a record that is currently held by former teammate Tina Charles.  If Moore can lead this team a national championship, she will undoubtedly be hailed as the best ever to have come through the program. 

Stanford now joins both Notre Dame's football and men's basketball programs on the list of legend slayers.  Oklahoma's 47 game win streak in football started and ended with a loss to the Fighting Irish; the UCLA men's basketball also tasted a little Irish luck during their 88 game win streak. 

Both Stanford and Connecticut of course will move on to their next games, but don't be surprised if they end up playing each other for the national championship.