Is there anything Maya Moore can't do?

Tonight I watched UConn dominate Seton Hall at the XL Center in Hartford by a score of 81-50. This improved the Lady Huskies to 29-0, preserved their season-long streak of unanimous #1 rankings, and locked up not only the Big East regular season championship but also two byes in the Big East tournament. Needless to say, the UConn women have been unstoppable this season.

Tonight was also Senior Night. Every time senior captain Renee Montgomery touched the ball, the crowd went crazy. The roar was even bigger when Cassie Kerns, a relatively unknown reserve player, hit her only basket. Yet the biggest ovation of the game went to a sophomore.

That sophomore was Maya Moore. Moore is arguably the most talented player in the country, and a top contender for Player of the Year honors. In fact, she reminds me of Diana Taurasi (another UConn legend) in how she plays like a guy. Everything she does is so much more fluid and athletic than the other women on the court - her jumpshot, how she backpedals after a three, the way she cuts in open court. She's mesmerizing to watch.

Anyway, getting back to her ovation. As a tribute to the three graduating seniors, Moore and Kaili McLaren sang the national anthem. I was expecting them to hack the song to pieces. Or start giggling halfway through. Or forget the words entirely. As it turned out, Kaili sang just like she plays - good touch, but she waddled/wobbled through most of the song. But Maya Moore nailed it. She threw in 4-5 harmonies, straying from the usual tune we all know. I looked at my girlfriend, Elissa, and our expressions said it all: a bit of surprise, but mostly we were thinking of course Maya Moore can sing in falsetto. Her performance was beautiful, especially for a 19-year-old singing in front of her first 16,000 person crowd.

Here's the most amazing part: she's not just a singer who also happens to win Player of the Year awards! She can also juggle and play the drums. Of course she can. She's Maya Moore.

(I promise to post something non-UConn related very soon!)

-Jay