The Women's Final Four championship game may not have been perfectly played, but the winners emerged with a perfect ending to a perfect season nonetheless.

Despite a championship-game-record 21 turnovers, Connecticut marked its place in women's basketball history with a national title and undefeated season after an 82-70 victory over Oklahoma March 31 in San Antonio.

The Huskies won their third national title and became the fourth team in history, including the 1995 Connecticut team, to finish with a perfect record, fueling a debate about whether the 39-0 season merited a designation beyond champion -- best ever.

"They can debate it as long as they like," said Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. "I've always said it -- we were the best team this year. You can't say best ever because it was a different era, different circumstances. We were the best team this year by a little bit over a really, really good team."

To secure itself as the best team this year, Connecticut had to defeat Oklahoma for the second time this season. To do so, the Huskies shot 60 percent from the field in the opening half and had the Sooners trailing, 42-30, at the break.

In the second half, a basket by Oklahoma senior Stacey Dales cut the once 15-point Connecticut lead to just six at 73-67 with 2:22 remaining in the game. Connecticut's Diana Taurasi responded with a jump shot and a free throw after Dales' fifth foul at the 1:31 mark. Taurasi hit the charity to put Connecticut up by nine. Dales left the game with 18 points.

"Those plays are crucial down the stretch," Dales said. "I was playing with four fouls -- you take your chances."

Rebounding was a major difference in the game as Connecticut collected 14 offensive boards, which resulted in 24 second-chance points. Overall, the Huskies out-rebounded the Sooners, 44-25.

"Rebounding was our focus tonight," Connecticut senior Swin Cash said. "We knew we had to be tough and go inside for easy buckets. We just kept fighting. I can't describe my feelings right now. We just had one of the best seasons ever."

Cash was named the most outstanding player of the tournament, leading the Huskies with 20 points and 13 rebounds. She was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Sue Bird and Asjha Jones. Dales and Rosalind Ross, who scored 26 points for the Sooners in the semifinals, were honored from Oklahoma.

Connecticut advanced to the national championship game with a 79-56 win over six-time champion Tennessee, while Oklahoma eliminated Duke from the title run, 86-71.

The Women's Final Four posted record attendance as 29,619 fans filled the Alamodome. It was the first time the championship had been played in a dome and was the largest crowd to ever witness a women's collegiate basketball game.

SEMIFINALS

Oklahoma 86, Duke 71

Duke: Michele Matyasovsky 3-5, 0-0, 3, 6; Monique Currie 3-10, 2-2, 1, 8; Iciss Tillis 8-20, 2-4, 9, 19; Vicki Krapohl 1-2, 0-0, 2, 3; Alana Beard 6-15, 2-2, 6, 15; Krista Gingrich 1-6, 0-0, 1, 3; Sheana Mosch 1-4, 1-2, 3, 3; Wynter Whitley 5-11, 4-4, 8, 14. TOTALS: 28-73, 11-14, 38 (5 team), 71.

Oklahoma: Caton Hill 5-11, 3-3, 6, 14; Jamie Talbert 3-5, 2-2, 5, 8; Rosalind Ross 7-14, 8-10, 10, 26; LaNeishea Caufield 4-13, 4-4, 3, 12; Stacey Dales 6-13, 2-2, 6, 17; Dionnah Jackson 3-4, 2-2, 4, 9; Shannon Selmon 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Stephanie Simon 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Lauren Shoush 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0; Lindsey Casey 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0; Stephanie Luce 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Kate Scott 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS: 28-61, 21-24, 42 (5 team), 86.

Halftime: Oklahoma 40, Duke 28. Three-point field goals: Duke 4-20 (Matyasovsky 0-1, Tillis 1-4, Krapohl 1-2, Beard 1-4, Gingrich 1-4, Mosch 0-1, Whitley 0-4); Oklahoma 9-25 (Hill 1-5, Ross 4-8, Caufield 0-2, Dales 3-8, Jackson 1-1, Shoush 0-1). Disqualifications: Beard. Officials: Dennis DeMayo, Barb Smith, Bryan Enterline. Attendance: 29,619.

Connecticut 79, Tennessee 56

Tennessee: Gwen Jackson 2-3, 0-0, 0, 4; Brittany Jackson 2-11, 3-4, 6, 8; Michelle Snow 2-7, 2-2, 8, 6; Kara Lawson 4-13, 1-2, 5, 9; April McDivitt 0-4, 0-0, 3, 0; Loree Moore 3-5, 0-0, 3, 7; Shyra Ely 3-6, 0-1, 4, 6; Tasha Butts 2-8, 2-2, 5, 7; Courtney McDaniel 4-8, 1-2, 4, 9; Michelle Munoz 0-2, 0-2, 2, 0; Ashley Robinson 0-2, 0-0, 0, 0; LaToya Davis 0-1, 0-0, 2, 0; Shalon Pillow 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Amanda Canon 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 22-70, 9-15, 48 (6 team), 56.

Connecticut: Swin Cash 4-10, 5-7, 4, 13; Tamika Williams 2-4, 4-5, 9, 8; Asjha Jones 8-17, 2-2, 10, 18; Diana Taurasi 7-16, 0-1, 10, 17; Sue Bird 7-15, 0-0, 4, 18; Jessica Moore 1-1, 1-4, 3, 3; Maria Conlon 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0; Ashley Battle 0-1, 2-2, 1, 2; Ashley Valley 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0; Stacey Marron 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Morgan Valley 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 29-65, 14-21, 44 (1 team), 79.

Halftime: Connecticut 38, Tennessee 25. Three-point field goals: Tennessee 3-14 (B. Jackson 1-6, Lawson 0-2, McDivitt 0-1, Moore 1-1, Butts 1-4); Connecticut 7-17 (Cash 0-1, Taurasi 3-7, Bird 4-8, Conlon 0-1). Disqualifications: none. Officials: Sally Bell, Lawson Newton, Angie Lewis. Attendance: 29,619.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Connecticut 82, Oklahoma 70

Oklahoma: Caton Hill 3-10, 1-2, 8, 9; LaNeishea Caufield 3-10, 8-9, 3, 14; Stacey Dales 7-15, 2-3, 3, 18; Rosalind Ross 6-13, 1-2, 4, 17; Jamie Talbert 2-6, 2-2, 4, 6; Dionnah Jackson 3-8, 0-2, 0, 6; Shannon Selmon 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 24-62, 14-20, 25 (3 team), 70.

Connecticut: Diana Taurasi 5-16, 3-3, 3, 13; Sue Bird 3-9, 8-8, 3, 14; Asjha Jones 9-14, 1-2, 9, 19; Swin Cash 5-9, 10-12, 13, 20; Tamika Williams 6-7, 0-0, 9, 12; Maria Conlon 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0; Stacey Marron 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Ashley Battle 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2; Jessica Moore 1-1, 0-0, 1, 2. TOTALS: 30-57, 22-25, 44 (4 team), 82.

Halftime: Connecticut 42, Oklahoma 30. Three-point field goals: Oklahoma 8-20 (Hill 2-3, Caufield 0-1, Dales 2-4, Ross 4-10, Jackson 0-2); Connecticut 0-9 (Taurasi 0-6, Bird 0-3). Disqualifications: Dales. Officials: Scott Yarbrough, Lisa Mattingly, Melissa Barlow. Attendance: 29,619