I can't think too many people envisioned UConn beating a very good Stanford team by 31 points in the early part of the second half. But the lead did grow to 60-29 with 12:06 to play.

Stanford did manage to outscore UConn 19-12 in the final 7 minutes but by then, it was far too little, much too late.

If anybody was wondering why Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery were the top two vote getters in the Associated Press Player of the Year balloting, watching them exert their will on this game should show that the writers who vote (I am not one of them) know what they are talking about.

Their reward is a third meeting with Louisville in Tuesday's national championship game.

"I'm excited to have another Big East championship game," Montgomery said. "I know they definitely aren't going to be the same team we played before."

A few observations from the game.

First, Renee Montgomery was not going to let UConn lose this game. She forced the issue early on. When she didn't find the range from 3-point land, she drove into the teeth of the Stanford defense either for a pull-up jumper or she would continue straight to the basket.

When Tiffany Hayes made the first shot of the game, I had a sense that it was going to be UConn's night.

Jayne Appel was immense with 26 points but by my count she missed five layups and also missed six free throws. Tina Charles was the only UConn starter not to score in double figures but I thought she played a very intelligent defensive game. She was able to push Appel out from her normal low block position enough times to disrupt things.

Unlike last year, Stanford's role players did not knock down shots and until the final 7 minutes, they seemed reluctant to even shoot the ball. Kayla Pedersen, Jeanette Pohlen and Jillian Harmon were a combined 7 for 25 after playing understated but pivotal roles in last year's Stanford win in the Final Four.

Now Louisville is all that stands between UConn and a perfect 39-0 season.

"We know Connecticut is a great team," Louisville senior forward Angel McCoughtry said. "Big ups to the Big East. It’s going to be good for our conference and we’re glad to have two Big East teams in the national championship game. We have a lot of respect for Geno and his program. We know what to expect. We’ve played them twice. So we’re just going to come out, play hard and hope to win."

McCoughtry had 14 of her 18 points in the second half of a 61-59 win over Oklahoma.

I happen to be staying in the same hotel as Louisville coach Jeff Walz and I was headed downstairs after putting my stuff in my room. The door opened a floor before I reached the lobby and who was it? Walz, of course.

He said "I really need some sleep." I said "you'll get to sleep on Wednesday." He said "you got that right" as he got off the elevator.

For those who care about this stuff, this will be the first matchup of two male head coaches since Leon Barmore led his Louisiana Tech team over the Joe Ciampi-coached Auburn squad in the 1988 final.