April 9, 2013 (New Orleans) - This date is the latest a UConn Basketball Team played a game...And it was the start of something special. The Breanna Stewart Era as the Huskies routed Louisville in the National Championship Game at New Orleans Arena. The last time the Big East as we knew it was over...The matchup guaranteed that both the Men's and Women's Champs would come from the league as it was breaking up over football...
And while Stewart was again remarkable by following up her 29 point effort against Notre Dame with a 23 point, 9 rebound, 3 assist and 3 block night. Along with 18p-9r from Sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda Lewis. This blog is about the epitammy of Blue Collar Basketball at UConn in Senior Kelly Faris. Certainly not the best player in program history, but one of it's most valuable. One of five players at UConn who have scored 1,000 points, grabbed 500 rebounds and dolled out 500 assists. The other four are Laura Lishness, Bria Hartley, Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore.
I remember senior day 2013 very well when Coach Geno Auriemma hugged Kelly at midcourt that day and told her he was going to do everything he could to help her win a National Championship. I reminded her of that conversation the before the Final and her eyes lit up with joy. Still after playing a huge role in the late first half run that seperated the Huskies from Notre Dame in the Semi's, there was still work to be done..And she did it with a big embrace from Coach at Games' end...
Doing a lot of the little things, two boards, an assist and a three ball in the 16-0 run that turned a 14-10 deficit into a 26-14 lead. Two more threes before the half as the Huskies led 48-29 at the half. Stewie and Kay with 30 combined, Faris, her normal 6p-4r-3a-1b....The final 20 minutes of her career, spectacular ! 10p-5r-3a-2s as the Huskies cruised to the title in the most lopsided championship game win in Tournament history 93-60. Faris's line in 33 minutes was 16p-9r-6a-1b-2s. because that's what Kelly did, plus all the intangibles you don't see on the stat sheet. Kelly spent two seasons playing with the relentless Maya Moore and it rubbed off. Or shall I say enhanced her efforts. Faris is one of the nicest kids you'll ever meet and to this day, she's in my top five personal favorite players I've covered.
The dynasty of four straight began this night, but I can tell you that Kelly Faris' work ethic rubbed off on many of those individuals who would carry the torch the next few seasons....It's a UConn thing, Kelly Faris took it to another level.
Watch the game at UConnHuskyGames.com