Connecticut senior forward Maya Moore has had some spectacular performances in her storied four years in Storrs, Conn. Saturday’s game at McDonough Arena – while not pretty by any stretch – solidified her position as one of the school’s all-time greats.

In a turnover-filled defensive battle typical of any game involving the Lady Hoyas, Georgetown gave usually dominant Connecticut a run for its money before eventually falling, 52-42.

Moore, a two-time Big East player of the year, stepped on the Lady Hoyas’ throats by making a big play every time the hosts appeared to gain momentum for a comeback. She finished with an efficient 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in a sloppy win for the Huskies.

“If I had a Maya Moore on my team, that would’ve helped a little bit,” Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. “Maya knows how to get open. Maya knows how to get the ball. Maya knows how to find her teammates. Maya’s an All-American for a reason.”

UConn, which had beaten all but three opponents this year by double figures, clinched its 19th Big East regular season title in 23 years.

“It’s getting harder every year,” Connecticut Head Coach Geno Auriemma said. “We used to be able to come down here to Georgetown, and they were struggling. Now you come down here, and they play with confidence, they play hard, they compete hard. It’s like that everywhere you go now. It’s incredible.”

Georgetown’s 1-3-1 press baffled UConn for much of the game, forcing the No. 1 team in the country into an unprecedented 26 turnovers – more than 10 over their season average.

When the Huskies actually beat the Blue and Gray press, they had nearly as much trouble scoring in the halfcourt game. The Lady Hoyas used a variety of trapping zones to stifle one of the nation’s top offenses; UConn scored a season-low 52 points on 38.7 percent shooting.

Unfortunately for Georgetown, there is more to winning a basketball game than playing stifling defense. The Blue and Gray struggled to score all game, shooting an appalling 25.9 percent from the field and often jacking up low-percentage shots late in the shot clock. Star sophomore guard Sugar Rodgers, whose play often defines her team’s success, continued her recent shooting slump with a 6-of-20 afternoon.

“Connecticut was playing very good defense,” Williams-Flournoy said. “I’m not going to take anything away from Connecticut, they’re No. 1 for a reason. They pushed us off our blocks a little bit. They forced us to not get the first shot we wanted in our offense.”

Officials Mark Zentz, Sue Blauch and Norma Jones called a fairly tight game, which did not do the aggressive and undersized Lady Hoyas any favors. The home team was whistled for 23 fouls compared to only 12 for the Huskies, forcing Williams-Flournoy to reach deep into her bench. Twelve Georgetown players saw action in the first half alone due to foul trouble, so inexperienced bench players were often matched up against Auriemma’s practiced six-player rotation.

Williams-Flournoy declined to comment on the officiating.

Despite their lack of offense, the Lady Hoyas appeared to be poised for an upset late in the game. A series of UConn turnovers and timely treys from senior guard Monica McNutt allowed Georgetown to battle back from a 14-point halftime deficit. Rodgers connected from beyond the arc to narrow the gap to 44-40 with just over five minutes to play.

But in the closing minutes of the game, the seasoned Huskies showed why they are the top team in the country. Moore and junior guard Tiffany Hayes keyed an 8-0 run to put the game out of reach for the young Lady Hoyas.

“It’s crazy to be that close,” said McNutt, who was playing in her final game at McDonough Arena. “That’s where the intelligence of [Connecticut], the experience of that team steps up.”

Although Saturday’s game was a valiant effort by the Lady Hoyas – particularly in the second half, in which they outscored the visitors, 23-19 – the players are no longer satisfied with moral victories, even against UConn.

“That went down as a loss,” McNutt said. “We gave that one away. Yeah it was a win [for UConn], but we held them to 52 points. … Yeah, I’m a little bit sour about that one.”

Georgetown closes its regular season Monday at South Florida.