HARTFORD, CT. - As expected, top-ranked Connecticut beat No. 9 West Virginia, 60-32, in the Big East Women's Basketball Tournament championship game tonight at the XL Center.

West Virginia (28-5) actually pushed Connecticut (33-0) for about 26 minutes and trailed only 33-28 and had the ball and two open looks at a 3-pointer to pull to within two points -- but the Huskies turned up the heat and the Mountaineers wilted under the pressure.

Connecticut finished the game on a 27-4 run -- mostly because of its defense - and didn't allow the Mountaineers to score from the 12-minute mark until there was 27 seconds left.

It was the third consecutive Big East Tournament title for Connecticut and 14th tournament title overall. Connecticut also extended its NCAA record for consecutive wins to 72.

West Virginia's Sarah Miles and Liz Repella were named to the All-Tournament team along with Connecticut stars Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins.

Huskies senior Kalana Greene was named the most outstanding performer of the tournament.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.