With a timeout on the floor, the fans sitting in the section behind the Connecticut bench stood and began to cheer, the Huskies holding a point lead, finally comfortable after a game in which Notre Dame kept things close throughout. With By the time the buzzer sounded and the confetti cannons sent a shower of shiny, colored paper to the floor, the real celebration was on. Connecticut defeated the Irish to win the program's third consecutive NCAA title and its 10th under coach Geno Auriemma, placing him in the company of Phil Jackson and John Wooden as the three coaches in history to win at least 10 championships.
As the mass hugging commenced, sophomore point guard Moriah Jefferson broke free and headed toward the stands to wave and smile at family. On another part of the court, Stewart was unsuccessful trying to hold back tears, while Mosqueda-Lewis kept a tight grip on the NCAA Championship trophy, pieces of confetti sticking to her skin.
A group of players unfurled the UConn banner as they began putting on their "National Champion" T-shirts and hats, and the ladders were placed under the baskets on both sides of the floor.
A group of distinguished Connecticut alumni, including Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Kelly Faris and Caroline Doty, snapped a couple of group selfies as the team took the stage for the trophy presentation. Moore, who had been posing for pictures with fans in the stands before the game, hugged Auriemma's wife, Kathy, and made eye-contact with Stewart on the stage, Stewart pointing in her direction and smiling.
Meanwhile, Mosqueda-Lewis just kept a firm, two-handed grip on that trophy. As Stewart was being interviewed by ESPN's Holly Rowe during the postgame presentation, she broke into tears and had to stop talking to gather herself twice -- first looking up to the ceiling and then pulling her shirt over her face as the crowd that remained in Amalie Arena chanted, "Stewie.
