Renee Montgomery shook off a shooting slump with seven three-pointers and 25 points to lead the No. 1 UConn Huskies to an 83-71 over Florida State on Sunday in the finale of the Caribbean Classic at the Moon Palace Resort.
Montgomery was 4 of 19 from three-point range in her past three games. But she finished 7-for-11 on Sunday, within one of the program's single-game record for threes, set in 1991 by Wendy Davis, now head coach at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.
Sophomore Maya Moore added 18 points and junior center Kaili McLaren had 10 points and a career-high seven assists.
Tanae Davis-Cain led the Seminoles (9-4) with 25 points, including 5 of 9 three-pointers. Guard Courtney Ward added 14 and Alysha Harvin had 11.
The victory virtually assures the Huskies (10-0) will retain their top ranking for the 113th week, tying Tennessee for the most in history.
It also wrapped up their 12th consecutive in-season tournament championship, dating to a loss to Vanderbilt in Hilton Head, S.C., in 1992. UConn's winning streak at these events in 37.
Connecticut had won its first two tournament games against Washington and Northern Colorado by a combined 103 points, increasing their average margin of victory this season to 39.6 points.
But the Seminoles (9-4), against whom UConn begins a home-and-home series next season in Tallahassee, Fla., proved more capable to keeping up with the pace.
One of coach Geno Auriemma's teaching points in practice Saturday was executing their press. And UConn forced the Seminoles to commit seven turnovers in the first 4 minutes, 40 seconds to help open a 13-0 lead.
The Seminoles did not score until Mara Freshour's 3-pointer with 15:05 remaining in the half. But Florida State eventually found its balance and outscored UConn over the last 35 minutes (71-70).
Four 3-pointers by Montgomery and McLaren's strong game in relief of Tina Charles, who had four fouls in 18 minutes, kept UConn ahead 43-29.
"Geno does such a fabulous job," FSU coach Sue Semrau said. "His players are so disciplined. ... They play great together and they play hard. They are the best team in America."
The Seminoles were twice down by 20 in the second half, but cut the lead to 65-54 with 8:57 to play when Ward turned a UConn turnover into a layup.
But the Huskies rallied again and when Caroline Doty set up Tiffany Hayes off the break, the UConn lead was back to 75-56 with 4:56 to play.
