April 1, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Connecticut's Maya Moore struggled to get open all night against Rutgers' smothering defense. Then, given a rare open look from long range, the fabulous freshman shot the Huskies back into the Final Four.

Moore hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with less than 3 minutes left to propel top-seeded UConn past the No. 2-seeded Scarlet Knights 66-56 on Tuesday night in the Greensboro Regional championship.

Renee Montgomery and Ketia Swanier each scored 15 points to lead the Huskies (36-1), who rallied from a 14-point deficit to win their 15th straight game and reach their ninth Final Four - but first since winning the 2004 national championship.

Moore finished with seven points - just her second single-digit performance of the season - but her final basket couldn't have come at a better time. With the game tied at 49-all, she took a feed at the top of the key and, with two-time Big East defensive player of the year Essence Carson sagging off of her, pulled up and swished a 3 to put UConn ahead to stay.

Matee Ajavon scored 18 points to lead Rutgers (27-7), the defending Greensboro Regional champion which was denied its second consecutive Final Four berth.