It's UConn vs. Tennessee -- Again

— -- ATLANTA (AP) -- Her right ankle was aching, her back was sore,her game was off.

Diana Taurasi wasn't about to let those annoyances stand in theway of another trip to the women's national championship game.

Taurasi made big baskets down the stretch and a key defensivestop at the end to give Connecticut a 71-69 victory over Texas onSunday night.

"I say it over and over again," UConn coach Geno Auriemmasaid. "We have Dee and they don't. That's probably the biggestreason we won."

Taurasi, the national player of the year, scored 26 points tobring the Huskies back from a nine-point deficit in the secondhalf. Now, they'll get a chance to play for their thirdchampionship in four years.

The title game is Tuesday night. The opponent is longtime rivalTennessee.

"There's just something about this team," Taurasi said. "Wejust don't want to go home."

It helps to have the country's best player. Taurasi's 3-pointerfrom well behind the arc gave the Huskies the lead for good, 67-66,with 2:07 remaining.

Texas still had a chance, but Taurasi knocked the ball away fromAlisha Sare as the little-used Texas player raced down the courttrying to set up a buzzer-beating shot.

Taurasi grabbed the loose ball and held up her right indexfinger as the horn sounded. Yes, the Huskies still have a chance tofinish No. 1 again.

"The biggest thing you can say about her is she's not afraid,"said coach Geno Auriemma, who picked up his 500th career victory."She wants the ball in the crucial situations."

Earlier, Tennessee beat Duke 66-56 in the other semifinal toadvance to a seemingly inevitable meeting with the Huskies.

"I know that's the game everyone's been waiting for," Auriemmasaid. "Now that it's here, let's enjoy it."

UConn (36-1) closed the semifinals with an 11-3 run to send homethe Longhorns (29-6), who were in the Final Four for the first timesince 1987.

"I was worried about just what happened," Texas coach JodyConradt said. "You know when you're playing against a great teamand a great player like Diana, you leave yourself open."