Taurasi went out yesterday after only 12 minutes and 2 points. In her absence, future All-American Ann Strother showed what UConn will look like post-Taurasi: still pretty good.

"I don't think you can just sit there and worry about [Diana]," said Strother, who had 27 points. "We did end up coming together and getting the job done, even though she wasn't in the game. It's just doing it when she's in there, too. That's going to make us the best team we can be."

Taurasi is fine, by the way. Her back was just sore after she aggravated a stress fracture in her back on a play where St. John's center Kati Kurtosi gave her a shot.

The Huskies called it a cheap shot, and after they game they were fuming about the reffing.

"That's what happens to her all the time," Ashley Battle said. "It happens every single game. She can't cut across the lane. She's like a pinball, because everyone's taking shots at her, throwing their forearms at her, grabbing her, scratching her. That's not right. That's not cool. She got caught in a bad spot."

"Here's my feeling on that: The only thing worse than the way we played today and the way I coached was the officiating," said Geno. "And the officiating has been horrible all yearlong. Diana Taurasi is the best player in the country. She gets mugged more in a game than any player I've ever been around in the 19 years I've been here, to the point where it's flagrant most of the time."