Notre Dame beats UConn 61-59 in Big East women's final

March 12, 2013 9:00 pm • Last Updated: March 13, 2013 12:02 am

UConn's Bria Hartley, left to right, Morgan Tuck, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Breanna Stewart, Kiah Stokes, Kelly Faris and Caroline Doty sit on the bench after their loss to Notre Dame as they wait for the ceremony to begin for the Big East Championship final Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

Hartford — Skyler Diggins' steal led to a Natalie Achonwa layup with 1.8 seconds remaining as top-seeded Notre Dame defeated No. 2 UConn 61-59 on Tuesday night to win its first Big East Conference women's basketball tournament championship at the XL Center.

Diggins, a senior All-American who finished with 23 points and was named the tournament's Outstanding Player, stole a pass and drove to the basket before finding a wide open Achonwa under the basket for the game-winner. The Irish have beaten the Huskies three times this season.

It was the final Big East tournament for both programs. Notre Dame will join the Atlantic Coast Conference next season and UConn will be part of a yet-to-be-named new conference in 2013-14.

Stefanie Dolson led the Huskies with 18 points and 14 rebounds while freshman Breanna Stewart added 16. Leading scorer Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis was held to just eight points and UConn did not make a 3-pointer the entire night, going 0-for-5.

UConn's Bria Hartley, 14, and Kelly Faris, 34, try to stop Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins, 4, as she drives towards the basket after stealing the ball from Hartley during the Big East Championship final game at the XL Center in Hartford Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins, 4, jumps into the arms of Natalie Achonwa, 11, as teammates Jewell Lloyd, 32, and Ariel Braker, 44, run in to join the celebration of their team beating UConn in the Big East Championship final game at the XL Center in Hartford Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

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