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Great story by espnW's Kate Fagan:
Kelly Faris was the first UConn player to find her former teammate, which seemed appropriate given the respect the two players have for one another. Faris was tipped off by her older sister, who said, "Maya's down there!" and gestured toward the seats at the far corner of New Orleans Arena. Faris walked gingerly across the cushioned folding chairs, careful not to slip through, then climbed over the railing and into Moore's open arms. Faris and Moore played together for two seasons at Connecticut, winning an NCAA title during Faris' freshman season, then losing to Notre Dame -- a shocking result, considering Moore's collegiate dominance -- in the national semifinals a year later.
"I'm just so proud of you," Moore said to Faris, one of the hardest-working players in UConn history. "And so happy for you."
In a way, Moore turned over the team to Faris two years ago. And on Tuesday night, Faris did the same with Mosqueda-Lewis. The two players were standing shoulder to shoulder on the sideline as they waited out the last seconds of the game. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma had already substituted for his senior guard, wrapping her in a long hug.
"He was just saying how he felt like I deserved this, and I just wanted to thank him," Faris said. "I thanked him over and over again. It's one of those things between us when we say, 'How do you put it into words?' He knows what I'm feeling; I know what he's feeling."
After last season's devastating national semifinal loss to Notre Dame, the second such loss for the Huskies in two seasons, Faris, backed by Auriemma, challenged her younger teammate to be better. Faris told Mosqueda-Lewis that the team expected more from her: more focus, more discipline, a change in attitude.
"That was hard for me to hear at first," Mosqueda-Lewis said. "But once I realized it was going to help my team and help me, I was more than willing to change."
Faris' eyes lit up as she talked about Mosqueda-Lewis and how she has grown. "She's made a huge transformation in the last year," she said. "And the two of us are so much closer. I know where her heart is. I can't wait to watch them play next year."
http://espn.go.com/womens-college-b...lps-uconn-clinch-eighth-title-program-history
Kelly Faris was the first UConn player to find her former teammate, which seemed appropriate given the respect the two players have for one another. Faris was tipped off by her older sister, who said, "Maya's down there!" and gestured toward the seats at the far corner of New Orleans Arena. Faris walked gingerly across the cushioned folding chairs, careful not to slip through, then climbed over the railing and into Moore's open arms. Faris and Moore played together for two seasons at Connecticut, winning an NCAA title during Faris' freshman season, then losing to Notre Dame -- a shocking result, considering Moore's collegiate dominance -- in the national semifinals a year later.
"I'm just so proud of you," Moore said to Faris, one of the hardest-working players in UConn history. "And so happy for you."
* * *
In a way, Moore turned over the team to Faris two years ago. And on Tuesday night, Faris did the same with Mosqueda-Lewis. The two players were standing shoulder to shoulder on the sideline as they waited out the last seconds of the game. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma had already substituted for his senior guard, wrapping her in a long hug.
"He was just saying how he felt like I deserved this, and I just wanted to thank him," Faris said. "I thanked him over and over again. It's one of those things between us when we say, 'How do you put it into words?' He knows what I'm feeling; I know what he's feeling."
* * *
After last season's devastating national semifinal loss to Notre Dame, the second such loss for the Huskies in two seasons, Faris, backed by Auriemma, challenged her younger teammate to be better. Faris told Mosqueda-Lewis that the team expected more from her: more focus, more discipline, a change in attitude.
"That was hard for me to hear at first," Mosqueda-Lewis said. "But once I realized it was going to help my team and help me, I was more than willing to change."
Faris' eyes lit up as she talked about Mosqueda-Lewis and how she has grown. "She's made a huge transformation in the last year," she said. "And the two of us are so much closer. I know where her heart is. I can't wait to watch them play next year."
http://espn.go.com/womens-college-b...lps-uconn-clinch-eighth-title-program-history
