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Just showing up for the games this season was not enough. The UConn women’s basketball team was not viewed as the same invincible machine it had been over the past two seasons.

The top-ranked Huskies still featured Maya Moore, the top player in the nation. Yet, they also featured four freshmen and a sophomore. Roles had to be defined. Confidence had to be gained.

In the end, this blue-collar team found what it was looking for in one another and in the season. UConn has once again navigated its way to the grand stage. Moore had 28 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high seven steals Tuesday to lead the Huskies to their fourth straight trip to the Final Four with a 75-40 win over No. 6 Duke in the NCAA Philadelphia regional final before 4,319 at the Liacouras Center.

“It’s really special,’’ Moore said. “This is sometimes the toughest game to play just to get into the Final Four. And the way that we came out, the way that we all played together, kept our cool and everybody playing well. I couldn’t have asked for more. And this is exactly where we’ve prepared ourselves to be.’’

It is UConn’s 12th Final Four appearance overall and its 11th since 1994-95.

Moore, who recorded her third straight double-double, was named the regional Most Outstanding Player for the fourth straight season. She also became the seventh player in Division I history to reach 3,000 points (3,000).

The Huskies (36-1) have advanced to the Final Four in four straight seasons for the second time in history.

“I think this is one of the best ones we’ve had so far in terms of it being the hardest,’’ junior Tiffany Hayes said. “It’s just good to see Lorin (Dixon) and Maya be able to get to their fourth straight one. And hopefully we can get there and get the job done.’’

UConn will meet No. 9 Notre Dame (30-7) in the national semifinals Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (9 p.m.). The Huskies have defeated Notre Dame three times this season, including a 73-64 win in the Big East tournament final March 8 at the XL Center.

“Contrary to what people think, I have a very stable view of myself and my team, and we’re very realistic,’’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “But one thing is the absolute truth. There’s only one team playing right now that knows how to win a national championship. So when things have to get done, they know how to get them done.’’

With the UConn men heading to Houston, it is the ninth time in NCAA history that a school has sent both teams to the Final Four in the same season. The Huskies won dual national championships in 2004.

Bria Hartley added 14 points, six rebounds and six assists for UConn. Stefanie Dolson had 12 points and six rebounds. Hayes had 11 points and five assists.

Hartley and Dixon were named to the all-regional team. Jasmine Thomas and Karima Christmas of Duke were also honored.

The Huskies shot 59.3 percent from the field as Moore and Lorin Dixon joined Diana Taurasi, Maria Conlon and Morgan Valley as the only four-year players at UConn to go to the Final Four four times in their career.

“I feel blessed to have such great teammates around me, a coaching staff that is so experienced and knows exactly how to prepare us for each section of the season,’’ Moore said. “This one is I think the sweetest just because it’s been the most challenging and a lot more doubts in the air.’’

Thomas led Duke with 17 points (7-of-22 FG), six rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Blue Devils (32-4) shot 25.4 percent from the field.

Duke actually provide some resistance at points during the first half. The Blue Devils trailed 23-20 with 3:39 left in the half.

But the Huskies generated a 7-0 run to open a 10-point lead at halftime. Moore capped the run with a baseline jumper at the buzzer.

Moore followed by scoring eight points in the first 5:40 of the second half as UConn used a 22-3 run to open a 52-23 lead with 10:35 left.

The Blue Devils went without a field goal for 8:15.

“All year has been a struggle, but our team just came together,’’ Dolson said. “And to be here in the tournament and make it this far to the Final Four, it just feels amazing. You can’t describe how great you felt and realizing in the last minute we were going to win. We were going to the Final Four.’’

Rich

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Duke's Karima Christmas, left, battles for control of the ball against Connecticut's Maya Moore (13) in the first half of an NCAA women's college basketball tournament regional final, Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Barbara Johnston)

Maya Moore scored 28 points to reach 3,000 for her career and added 10 rebounds and seven steals as the UConn women’s basketball team crushed Duke 75-40 in the East Regional final to clinch their 12th Final Four appearance and third in a row.

The Huskies will face fellow Big East foe Notre Dame in the national semifinals in Indianapolis on Sunday at a time to be determined as they continue their drive for a record-tying eighth national championship.

Moore, who left the court briefly in the second half after a hard fall, became the seventh player in NCAA history to reach the 3,000-point plateau with 3:25 remaining.

Bria Hartley scored 14 points Stefanie Dolson added 12 for UConn (36-1). Tiffany Hayes scored 11.

Jasmine Thomas scored 17 points for Duke, which lost its second game to Connecticut this season.

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Maya Moore has been named the ECAC Player of the Year. Here is the release sent by UConn SID Pat McKenna …

Senior forward Maya Moore has been honored as the Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year while junior guard Tiffany Hayes earned a spot on the Second Team, as announced by the ECAC on Tuesday. Moore was voted onto the ECAC First Team last season.

Moore, Hayes and the top-ranked Huskies are set to tip-off against No. 2 seed Duke in the Philadelphia Regional Final with the winner earning a spot in the Final Four. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Temple’s Liacouras Center.

Moore was recently selected as a First Team All-American by the Associated Press for the fourth time. She and former Oklahoma standout Courtney Paris are the only student-athletes in history to accomplish that feat. Moore was honored as the BIG EAST Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2010-11 and also earned mention as the BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player.

She is a finalist for the Wade Trophy, Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and AP and USBWA Player of the Year Awards.

Hayes, who earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team, is second on the team with 14.0 points per game and leads the squad with 139 made free throws. She has started in all 36 contests for the Huskies this year and is shooting a solid 34.7 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

2010-11 ECAC Division I Women’s Basketball All-Stars
Player of the Year
Maya Moore Sr. F Connecticut
Rookie of the Year
Alyssa Thomas Fr. F Maryland

First Team
Maya Moore Sr. F Connecticut
Carolyn Swords Sr. C Boston College
Dawn Evans Sr. G James Madison
Jasmine Thomas Sr. G Duke
Erica Allenspach Sr. G Marist

Second Team
Courtney Hurt Jr. F Va. Commonwealth
Elena Delle Donne So. F/G Delaware
Shante Evans So. F Hofstra
Serena Moore Sr. F Siena
Tiffany Hayes Jr. G Connecticut
Sugar Rodgers So. G Georgetown

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Former UConn forward Stacy Hansmeyer has stepped down at Oklahoma. Here is the release from the Sooners:

After helping the University of Oklahoma to its most successful era of women’s basketball, assistant coach Stacy Hansmeyer has stepped down from her position to seek further opportunities, OU head coach Sherri Coale announced today.

“I have had a remarkable 10 years with the University of Oklahoma, and even longer relationship with Coach Coale,” Hansmeyer said, “but I feel that the time is right to take the next leap forward in my career.’’

Hansmeyer leaves Oklahoma with a decorated résumé, having played or coached in five NCAA Final
Fours.

Hansmeyer was hired at OU beginning with the 2001-02 season and contributed immediately to its decade of unparalleled accomplishments. The Sooners won Big 12 regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the program’s first Final Four in her initial year, appearing in the national championship against her alma mater, Connecticut.

Hansmeyer was also instrumental in the recruitment and development of California natives Ashley and Courtney Paris, who spurred OU’s Final Four run in 2009. Courtney Paris became the 2007 AP National Player of the Year and the first-ever four-time AP All-American, ending her career as the first player in college basketball history of any gender or division to total 2,500 points and 2,000 rebounds in a career.

In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year in 2010, Oklahoma became the first women’s basketball team in the state’s history to appear in the Final Four in consecutive seasons and concluded the schedule ranked third in the nation.

“Stacy has had an incredible basketball career as a player and a coach,’’ Coale said. “I expect that the success that has followed her since I was her coach at Norman High will continue at her next stop. She has an energy and excitement that has is refreshing for myself, our players and staff alike and we all wish her the best. It has been a joy to be her coach, mentor and friend.’’

An All-American under Coale at Norman High School, Hansmeyer captured a state title and 27-1 record in her senior season and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 2002.

Hansmeyer played at Connecticut under Geno Auriemma, winning a national championship in 2000. Following one season as a graduate assistant at UConn, Hansmeyer was hired at Oklahoma.

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Maya Moore reacts in the final minutes of a win over Florida State on December 21, 2010 in Hartford, Connecticut. Connecticut set a record with 89 straight wins without a defeat. Moore was recently named to the Associated Press All-American team for a record fourth-straight season.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Maya Moore’s career at UConn has been reduced to only a few days at best. She will ascend to the next level not only as the most decorated player in team history, but as one of the most decorated in the history of the sport.

Moore became just the second player in history Tuesday to be named a first team All-American by The Associated Press four times. Former Oklahoma star center Courtney Paris is the only other player to achieve such status.

“It’s really special and something that I’m sure I will really appreciate more when I look back on it years from now,’’ Moore said. “I’ve been blessed to have had really good teammates to play with over my career.’’

Moore, who was a unanimous selection for an AP record third straight year, was joined on the first team by sophomore Brittney Griner of Baylor and seniors Jantel Lavender of Ohio State, Jeanette Pohlen of Stanford and Danielle Adams of Texas A&M.

UConn junior Tiffany Hayes earned honorable mention honors.

Moore, who will lead the top-ranked Huskies against No. 6 Duke in the NCAA Philadelphia regional final tonight, is the all-time leading scorer in team history (2,972). She is also ranked second in made 3-pointers (304), third in rebounding (1,258), fourth in steals (299) and blocks (201) and sixth in assists (541, tie).

Moore is expected to sweep the national Player of the Year awards and is also the only women’s basketball player in Division I history to reach 2,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, 250 steals and 150 blocked shots. She is averaging career-highs of 22.3 points, 4.1 assists, 2.2 steals and 32.8 minutes and is also averaging 8.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over the first 36 games this season.

“That’s pretty awesome,’’ sophomore Kelly Faris said. “And for her it’s going to be even that much more rewarding … Everybody always says like 10 years down the road. When you’re going through it it’s like, `Oh, that’s cool. It’s fun.’ So, for her, it’s awesome. She’s accomplished so much more than anybody would ever even imagine someone could accomplish. And she deserves it. She works her butt off. I’m really proud of her.’’

Rich

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It did not take the UConn women’s basketball team long to grasp how different this season was going to be compared to a year ago. Roles were undefined. Senior leadership had been replaced by unproven freshmen. And teaching these newbies proved to be more difficult than initially anticipated.

Reaching the Final Four remained the goal. That never changes regardless of the difference in personnel. Yet, the top-ranked Huskies did not resemble a Final Four team when they began working out last summer.

Months later, UConn finds itself in the same position as its more talented, more experienced predecessor. Despite their shortcomings the Huskies are one win away from stepping on the game’s greatest stage. They will meet No. 6 Duke tonight in the NCAA Philadelphia regional final at the Liacouras Center (7; ESPN).

“It took a lot more work, a lot more effort,’’ senior Lorin Dixon said. “Everybody had to give more than what they ever have before. If you’d have seen us at the beginning of the year you would’ve said there’s no way that we’re one game away from making it to the Final Four again.’’

The Huskies (35-1) are competing in the regional final for the sixth straight season and the 17th time overall (11-5). They are seeking their fourth straight trip to the Final Four (12th overall).

There have been only seven programs in the history of the sport that have made a total of four trips to the Final Four. UConn is trying to complete its second run of at least four consecutive seasons.

“Things weren’t going how we would’ve liked them to go starting in the summer and going through preseason,’’ sophomore Kelly Faris said. “I think all of us, as well as the coaching staff, were just frustrated with how things were panning out for us. So to be able to look all the way back from the very, very beginning to now it is (hard to believe). There’s times that you think, `Wow, we’ve come a long way to get here and we’ve done a lot of work to improve as a team as a whole.’’

Duke (32-3) is appearing in its 10th regional final, seeking its fifth Final Four appearance. The last time the Blue Devils reached the Final Four they defeated UConn 63-61 in overtime in the 2006 regional final in Bridgeport.

The Huskies have won the last two games against Duke by a combined 69 points, including an 87-51 victory at Gampel Pavilion Jan. 31. UConn scored the first 13 points of the game and led by 26 at halftime.

The Blue Devils did not want to talk in detail about that game Monday. The responses from Coach Joanne P. McCallie and the players were brief.

“I don’t really have any platitudes about that,’’ McCallie said. “We got thumped. There was no game when we played last time. We have no idea how to beat them. We’ll see. We’re going to have to find something out.’’

McCallie at times grew irritated by the frequent references to the first game against UConn this season. The players were dismissive.

Regardless of how the Blue Devils feel heading into the rematch, the Huskies expect them to be a completely team tonight.

“If something like that happened to us, you can bet that we’re going to come out the next time with the most motivation we’ve ever had,’’ Faris said. “Not only is it a matter of them coming back against a team that beat them by that much in the regular season, but it’s a chance to go to the Final Four. They’ll be gunning for us, and it’s a big challenge for us to face. We know we have to be ready for it.’’

The Huskies have overcome a series of challenges this season to reach this point. They realize that getting back to the Final Four this season will be most fulfilling.

“I think it’ll feel better because of how this year’s been compared to the past two years,’’ Hayes said. “It’s been harder. It’s been way harder. The practices. The people on the team. It’s been different. This will definitely be one to remember.’’

Rich

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Here are some comments from Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie …

On the loss to UConn at Gampel Pavilion Jan. 31:
“I don’t really have any platitudes today about that,’’ McCallie said. “We got thumped. We moved on and we beat the next team by 24. And from there getting better and better and better. That’s what we’re trying to do is get better.’’

“We got thumped,’’ McCallie said. “There was no game when we played last time. We got hit hard there and it’s the character of your team in terms of how they respond. Of course, it’s one of those things where everyone likes to blow up the drama. But I thought the most interesting drama was how Duke responded. And Duke responded with an incredibly game against Miami where Jasmine Thomas only had six points. I think it was 26. I don’t know. It was something like that. It was kind of a dominant game.’’

On whether the loss to UConn Jan. 31 was a turning point in the season:
“We were 20-0 playing Connecticut, with five freshmen,’’ McCallie said. “There’s no turnaround of the season. We’ve had a heck of a season and we want to grow our season. So let’s see … We won 20 games. I think we probably stopped listening as well after 16. We beat Kentucky. We beat Texas A&M. We beat Xavier. We beat a whole lot of really good teams. We’ve got thumped at Connecticut, a little bit of a comeuppance. Probably just part of the learning curve. But our season has been one of power, incredible power. And it’s continued, winning the ACC regular season and the ACC tournament. So I can’t talk about the turnaround. There’s no turnaround. There’s been nothing but power and excitement and getting better. And we played the hardest schedule in the country pretty much or close to, maybe one of two. And we’ve been trying to grow our game as much as we can. We have the most exciting freshmen in the country. We have five of them. And they’ve all pretty much impacted games. We’re quite young relative to experience, and our seniors have done a very good job of trying to cover that up.’’

On whether or not anything has changed when it comes to UConn at this point in the season:
“They control the ball well,’’ McCallie said. “They find each other well. They don’t dribble. They pass well. To me, it’s all the same. They thumped us. There was no game there. And we moved on from that point. But at this point in time is it really about any opponent? Isn’t it about trying to get to Indy? At some point I think you have to be excited about the opportunity at hand. And I’m sure Connecticut is. They’re thinking Indy. They want to get to Indy. It’s a great opportunity for any team in this situation. But still we have to beat them. We have no idea how to beat them. We’ll see. We’re going to have to find something out.’’

On what Duke has to do differently Tuesday night:
“I think our team’s got to play more than 22 minutes,’’ McCallie said. “If we play 22 minutes it’s not going to be a good outcome for Duke. We’ve got to play a full game. We’ve got to be very aggressive. We’ve got to do a lot better job on the boards, a lot better job shot contesting. The transition defense was horrendous last time we played them. They scored a bunch of points there. They scored a bunch of points against Georgetown in transition. They’re known for their long passes, their long outlets, sort of their no-dribble break. Those are areas that we’ve got to really improve on. And some of the quick shot contesting. And, boy, you really have to be alert. Some of the teams we’ve played has helped prepare us a little bit. But they’re still a different team.’’

On the nation’s desire to see UConn and Tennessee meet in the national semifinals:
“We have the whole UConn-Tennessee thing,’’ McCallie said. “Everyone knows that everybody wants Tennessee and Connecticut in the semifinal. And everyone’s just crossing their fingers for that to happen.’’

Rich

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CONFIDENCE – The roster clearly states that Bria Hartley is a freshman. There are stretches in games where she resembles her class standing, such as in the first half Sunday against No. 22 Georgetown in the NCAA regional semifinals.

Hartley scored five points on 2-of-8 shooting (1-of-5 3-pointers) in 18 minutes in the first half. Unfazed, she did not allow it alter her approach in the second half.

Hartley scored seven straight points and nine of 11 for the Huskies over a span of 6:46 in the half. She finished with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting (2-of-3 3-pointers) in 18 minutes as UConn overcame a seven-point deficit.

“I think it helps me to have coaches … Coach Shea Ralph. You have Marisa and CD and then Coach Auriemma. They all encourage me to shoot, just telling me to fix little things and telling me to keep shooting,’’ Hartley said. “Because when you’re playing you’ve still got to be aggressive. They don’t want me to be tentative because that doesn’t really help our team. It does when I’m out there and I’m being aggressive and looking for my shot. And they were just telling me that throughout the whole game, even though I’m not making shots.’’

Hartley, who is averaging 13.0 points and has made eight 3-pointers in the tournament, was a major factor in UConn’s comeback. She ignited a game-breaking 13-0 run with a 3-pointer with 8:20 left. She followed with another one with 4:20 left that gave the Huskies a 62-55 lead.

“I think I live for moments like that, especially when the game was tight,’’ Hartley said. “It’s that big 3 you have to hit. And I think lately this year I’ve come through and hit those big shots.’’

ALL IN – It has reached the point for the depth-challenged Huskies where the assistant coaches now have to participate in practice at times. The NCAA prohibits the use of male practice players at this stage of the tournament because it provides teams with an unfair advantage.

With only nine healthy players, Shea Ralph and Marisa Moseley have been asked to take part in practice so that UConn can take part in 5-on-5 work.

“It’s hard for me to get out there these days, but Marisa does a good job,’’ Ralph said. “But by the time we get here, we have gone over everything we need to anyhow. We can do a lot of things to get better that don’t have to be done 5-on-5. We have everything the way it needs to be to make sure we have everything taken care of once we get to the game with or without practice players.’’

UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey reiterated that the lack of male practice players is not an issue at this point in the season. She said at this point 90 percent of it is mental and 10 percent of it is physical. The majority of what the Huskies are doing at practice now is going over the particular game plan.

“We’re working on things,’’ Dailey said. “We’re fine tuning more so than teaching a lot of new stuff. We’re just throwing in some wrinkles, fine tuning what we already do. So it’s not that big an issue.’’

SUPPORTIVE – Stefanie Dolson considers herself to be a rowdy UConn fan. She is a regular in the student section at the men’s basketball games, usually with fellow freshman teammate Lauren Engeln.

Dolson said that she draw the line when it comes to painting her face blue and white. That is not good for one’s complexion.

“We would find rides and get there somehow,’’ Dolson said. “It’s crazy. The adrenaline and the excitement you get from being there. It’s like high school. You have your girls and your guys team, and you’re always with your guys team at a lot of the games. You get just as excited for their games as you do for your own. It’s a great feeling.’’

It is no surprise that when the men’s team defeated Arizona in the West regional final Saturday to reach the Final Four that mayhem erupted in the UConn team hotel in Philadelphia.

“We were watching the end of it and the minute the game was over we all came out of our rooms,’’ senior Maya Moore said. “We were just screaming in the hallways and high-fiving, chest-bumping. It was awesome. To see how our men are just shocking the world … It’s really fun to watch and I know we’re extremely excited and proud of them and it gives us a little extra motivation to play even better.’’

Dolson proved again how unselfish the Huskies are, responding to a question about being pulled in the second half Sundays win over Georgetown:

“I was just as excited when I was in the game when I was out,’’ Dolson said. “Lorin Dixon went in and was a complete game-changer. It didn’t matter. Whatever worked worked. And it was all five of them out there. I think something that I noticed was when that it was all the guards it really spread out the defense and it just opened up completely. So they did a great job. So for me to be not in … Just because you’re not in the game doesn’t mean you’re not a part of it. You’re still on the sidelines cheering them on. We were having a lot of fun on the bench just getting so excited for everyone who was out there and the great things that they were doing.’’

The UConn-Georgetown game Sunday drew a 1.2 overnight metered market rating. It was the highest for a women’s NCAA tournament game on ESPN or ESPN2 through the NCAA regional semifinals dating back to 2000. The previous high was a 1.1 rating for the Texas Tech-Tennessee game March 27, 2005; the UC-Santa Barbara-UConn game March 27, 2004; and the UConn-Boston College game March 20, 2003.

Rich