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The First of 11 Championships for UConn Women's Basketball !!

The game everyone in Women's College Basketball wanted to see. UConn and Tennessee in Minneapolis on April 2, 1995. But instead of watching the great players, the two person officiating crew of Larry Plumer and Dee Kantner thought blowing the whistle was a good idea. To the tune of UConn All Americans Rebecca Lobo & Jennifer Rizzotti,along with Freshman Nykeshia Sales to watch from the bench with three fouls each while the Lady Vols battled their way to a 38-32 halftime lead. Jamelle Elliott and Carla Berube doing whatever they could to keep the Huskies in it.

The Huskies couldn't quite get even with Tennessee for a good chunk of the second half...But hung around before Lobo started to assert herself. She helped key a 9-2 run, capped by a Jamelle Elliott putback to give UConn it's first lead since mid first half at 59-58 with 5:40 left. And she later tied the game at 61 with 2:20 remaining. It set the stage for Rizzotti, the junior point guard from New Fairfield, who after a long rebound off a baseline jumper by Tennessee's Nikki McCray, grabbed the rebound at the foul line and took off down the floor. One on one with Michelle Marciniak, Rizzotti started left at the top of the key, used a cross over dribble to the right and scored on a layup with 1:52 remaining. Defensive stops, rebounds and free throws took over as Rizzotti made a pair, Lobo went 3 for 4 and Berube the last two to put away the 70-64 win and the programs first national championship.

Lobo capped her career with 17p-8r, Rizzotti had 15 as the Huskies again used balance with five players in double figures to earn the title. The second team in Women's NCAA Tournament History to go undefeated. Of course since then the Huskies have don it 5 other times, the most recent 2016...And eleven titles overall...

The trip home from Bradley International was just amazing...Signs hanging everywhere, on Overpasses, along the street and a packed house at Gampel awaiting the Huskies upon returning to Campus....And the parade the following weekend was simple spectacular !! When it was new and exciting. Just the start of an incredible 20 year run for UConn Women's Basketball...A Championship on April 2m 1995


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