HARTFORD, Conn. — It had to end eventually. It just didn’t necessarily need to end like this.
When No. 18 Marquette women’s basketball jumped out to a fast 10-0 lead and forced an early UConn timeout, it looked to be vindication. All looming debts paid off, past sins forgiven.
Perhaps this team of scrappy newcomers would do what had never done before. Perhaps the ever-daunting XL Center wouldn’t be the deterrent it was chalked up to be. Perhaps, David would once again beat Goliath to keep the good times rolling, the undefeated streak undefeated and the euphoria in full bloom.