The glitz and glamour that is "First Night" at Gampel Pavilion is now history. In about 12 hours the team will be back at Gampel going through the first official practice of the 2008-09 season.

A few highlights from the evening:
Let's start with UConn coach Geno Auriemma's pointed comments predicting a national title.

"Being the theme that this is an election year, these guys told me the other day, (senior guard) Renee (Montgomery) told me that she is sick and tired of the last four years and we are not are going to put up with any more Big East championships and tournament championships," Auriemma said. "We are sick of tired of four years of no national championships and we are promising to win one just for you guys."

With that, Montgomery took the microphone and uttered the words "national championship or bust."

The rest of the evening turned into a showcase for sophomore forward Maya Moore.

Moore had eight points, two rebounds and two assists as the White team defeated the Blue 16-11 in a 10-minute scrimmage.

Kalana Greene, who was just cleared to play in late August after tearing two ligaments in her right knee in a December game against South Carolina, had back to back baskets and finished with four points, three rebounds and a steal while Tina Charles also had four points including an impressive left-handed layup for the White squad.

Montgomery led the Blue with five points.

Moore teamed with Craig Austrie, a senior guard on the men's team, to win the "2-Ball" competition. Moore and Austrie hit eight straight 3-pointers to easily beat the squad of UConn women's freshman guard Caroline Doty and men's junior forward Gavin Edwards 24-11 in the final.

Moore and Tina Charles then engaged in the first women's dunking contest in the history of the UConn's season-opening fan fest.

On her last dunk, Moore soared in for a decisive slam for a perfect score of 40 from the four judges to edge Charles 115-114.

The only event Moore did not win was the relay race. The team of Doty, Tahirah Williams, Cassie Kerns and student Lynn Mraz of Oxford formed the championship squad.

Kelly Faris, a 5-foot-11 guard from Indianapolis, Ind. who committed to UConn in March, was joined by three other highly-regarded prospects in the stands.

"It’s hard for me to believe that I’m going to be here playing for Connecticut," Faris said before the event began. "You always dream of being with a program like this and to know I will be here is very relaxing to me. I have my decision made and I am just happy to be here to watch it all."

Krista Gross, a 6-foot wing from Charlotte, N.C., is the only other player the Huskies are actively in the current recruiting class was joined by Class of 2010 prospects Samarie Walker, a 6-foot-1 forward from Dayton, Ohio and 5-foot-10 guard Olivia Bresnahan from Pittsburgh.

"I love the campus and the entire team seems so nice," Bresnahan said. "I’m having a lot of fun. This is just the start of the whole process and it’s a little overwhelming at the start. I’m trying to just take things one step at time and consider all of my choices. I know it has the potential to get a little overwhelming and tiring at times. I think I’d like to have it over before my senior season just so all the pressure is off me."

In other news, expect the CPTV television schedule to be released shortly. There is a chance that the three games in the tournament in Cancun in December may not be televised although CPTV is currently in negotiations to try to secure the rights.