Husky of Honor: Moore Nets 23 on Senior Night as UConn Huskies Beat Syracuse

Four years ago began the journey of a young woman who would soon become the greatest women's basketball player of all time.

Maya Moore left Lawrenceville, Georgia, in 2007 to play for coach Geno Auriemma and the University of Connecticut Huskies, the most respected program in women's college basketball.

Even as a freshman, it was known that Moore would be the piece that completed the puzzle that would bring UConn back to championship glory, having not won since winning their third in a row and fifth overall in 2004.

She reached expectations, then went far beyond.

A section of her bio on UConn's official athletic site reads as follows:

"Honored as the 2010 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and as the 2010 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Moore was also honored as a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2008-09...A three-time WBCA/State Farm All-America selection, Moore took home the prestigious Wade Trophy in 2008-09 and 2009-10...Winner of the Naismith and Wooden Awards in 2008-09...

"Selected to the United States Basketball Writers Association All-America Team in all three of her years with the Huskies and earned USBWA Player of the Year status in 2008-09... Earned mention as a three-time Associated Press First Team All-America pick. Moore became only the second freshman all-time to be honored as an AP First Team pick in 2007-08...

"Named to the 2009 WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team as a junior...Honored as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 NCAA Tournament and selected to the All-NCAA Tournament Team in 2009...Named Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 NCAA Dayton Regional and of the 2009 NCAA Trenton Regional...Broke the UConn single-season scoring record with her total of 754 points as a sophomore—besting Kara Wolters' previous record total (694)...

"A multi-dimensional player who can play any position on the floor...Named 2007-08 and 2008-2009 BIG EAST Player of the Year. Moore was the first freshman ever to be named BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2007-08...2009 BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player."

Moore is one of the most decorated players in the game. A two-time national champion, FIBA World Champion, National Player of the Year, and a member of the team that did not lose a game from November of 2008 until the end of December 2010, during which they won an NCAA Division I Basketball record 90 straight games, surpassing the UCLA men's streak of 88 from 1971-1974.

Also of major importance to note is that Moore was several times named an Academic All-American. While becoming the greatest player in the country, she also managed to excel in the classroom.

Soon to be a three-time Wade Trophy winner and a No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, Moore still has some unfinished business in Storrs.

Some of the things to be done were checked off the list Monday night, as Moore and fellow senior Lorin Dixon were honored for their four years of service to the program during a 82-47 blowout for the top-ranked Huskies (29-1) over Syracuse (21-8).

Prior to the game, Moore and Dixon were honored along with graduating team managers in an emotional ceremony at Gampel Pavilion, capped by the unveiling of Maya's No. 23 among the UConn Huskies of Honor, where her banner will forever hang next to the number of her teammate of three years, former Husky Tina Charles.

She becomes the 13th player on the women's side to receive the honor and also joins Coach Auriemma, and the championship teams of 1994-95 and 1999-2000.

Along with former teammates Charles (2006-2010) and Renee Montgomery (2005-2009), Moore is also notably joined by UConn assistant coach Shea Ralph, who played for the Huskies from 1996 to 2001 and was a member of the 1999-2000 national champion team.

"I view the women up there as big sisters and the rich history they've created here and I want to make them prouder," Moore said.

"Once I'm done playing here I'll be able to maybe have a different feeling about it. I want to continue to represent well and do the things that they did to be great."

Moore dropped 23 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and had three assists as well as three steals. She was given the hook for a well-deserved ovation with about eight minutes left.

Dixon, who made a rare start in place of Bria Hartley for Senior Night, scored eight and played extremely well on both sides of the ball.

Junior Tiffany Hayes added 18.

The Huskies seemed tired late, but a very short bench (only nine players normally available) was made even shorter the other day as sophomore Heather Buck, normally the No. 2 behind freshman center Stefanie Dolson, was ruled out until the NCAA Tournament with a sprained ankle. She is moving around on crutches and will miss the Big East Tournament.

Against the Orange, the Huskies had little worries and were able to get reserves Lauren Engeln and Michala Johnson significant time on the floor as both will be needed for the Big East Tournament.

Following the game, the Huskies were presented with the 2010-11 Big East Regular Season Championship Trophy, completing a 16-0 conference season.

Connecticut earns a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, set to be played March 4 through March 8 at the Huskies' second home, the XL Center in Hartford. The bracket puts them on track to most likely meet up with Georgetown, Rutgers and either Notre Dame or DePaul for the championship.

It is the ninth time the Huskies have won the regular-season title with an undefeated record.

"That's something to be proud of," Auriemma said. "They showed up every single night home and away through everything and figure out a way to win. It means a lot to me more than anything else. I find it remarkable."

Moore and Dixon, the most successful senior duo in the history of the game with a current record of 143-3, also both addressed the crowd, praising the support from the fans throughout their four years.

"Very few teams are lucky to have fans like you," Moore said over the PA system.

"And nobody else has them that's for sure," she exclaimed as she pointed to the student section, which has been UConn's sixth man all season, a driving force behind the team.

"As much as you guy's love them," Auriemma said to the students after the game during his Student and Fan Loyalty Program drawing. "Those girls love you 100 times more."

The Huskies still have as many as five home games remaining, as they host the Big East Tournament in Hartford and the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Gampel on March 20 and 22.