Bridgeport — The UConn women's basketball team has made so much look easy this season. Yet, when perfection is the goal daily, nothing is ever as easy as it seems.

The top-ranked Huskies endured their share of challenges. And, through it all, they find themselves exactly where they hoped they would be at this time of the season — the Final Four.

Regional Most Outstanding Player Breanna Stewart finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks to lead UConn to an 86-65 victory over second-seeded Texas Monday in the NCAA Bridgeport regional final before a sellout crowd of 9,008 at Webster Bank Arena.

"I think whenever you have a new team it's hard," said Stewart, who was named regional MOP for the third time. "Nothing comes easy and especially playing for (Coach Geno Auriemma), playing at UConn, nothing is easy. And we had to build that chemistry, to rebuild the chemistry with our entire team, to show the young guys how we do things, to become even better leaders, take on bigger roles."

The Huskies (36-0) have advanced to the Final Four for an NCAA record ninth straight season and the 17th time overall. Tennessee (18) is the only team that has made more appearances since the origin of the NCAA tournament in 1982.

UConn, which has won 73 straight games and a record 22 straight NCAA tournament games, will Oregon State, a 60-57 winner over No. 1 Baylor in the Dallas Regional final, in the national semifinals Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (6 p.m., ESPN). Syracuse and Washington will meet in the second game.

UConn is the only No. 1 seed to make it to the Final Four.

"It speaks to what the program has done over the last 30 years, how great they have been and the type of people they have had here," UConn sophomore Kia Nurse said. "It's more than just you come in here, you wear the UConn jersey and you're going to the Final Four. You work for it. The coaches teach you every single day that you have to earn every minute. You have to earn every win. All together, it's just a testament to the tradition of excellence that has been built here."

Morgan Tuck had 22 points, six rebounds and three assists for UConn. Moriah Jefferson added 11 points and nine assists, while Nurse had 11 points and two assists.

Jefferson and Tuck were named to the all-regional team. They were joined by Ariel Atkins and Lashann Higgs of Texas.

"This is a big part of us reaching our goal, and we have to go to the Final Four to do that," Tuck said. "So I think that as a team, we're just really excited to be able to go and enjoy the Final Four and then, hopefully, win two games."

The Huskies led 46-31 at halftime, shooting 60.7 percent from the field. The lead was 12 with 5:32 left in the third quarter after three straight 3-pointers by the Longhorns.

Jefferson, Stewart and Tuck, however, would again provide the answers for UConn. They combined to score 26 of the Huskies' next 28 points before leaving the game with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter and an 82-60 lead.

"There was a point when they were starting to go on a run where we were like, 'OK, we need to step up. We need to take over,'" Stewart said. "We have worked hard to be in these situations, and we are prepared for these situations. It's when the best players play their best."

Tuck and Stewart scored off of back-to-back inbounds plays. Jefferson and Stewart then each made a 3-pointer to settle the Huskies.

Tuck produced 12 points during this span. Stewart had nine. Jefferson had five.

"They've been there and done it so they understand what that pressure feels like," Texas coach Karen Aston said. "And they have a confidence level from the experiences that's unique. And then you can't deny that they're talented."

Atkins and Higgs led Texas with 19 points apiece. Brooke McCarty added 15. The Longhorns were looking to return to the Final Four for the first time since losing to UConn in 2003.

As expected, the Huskies did not cut down the nets after the game. That is something they hope to do April 5 after winning a fourth straight national championship.

"This game is the most difficult game I think to win, and it showed," Auriemma said. "You're playing against a really good team that really tested us at both ends of the floor, kind of forced our best players to play great. I'm excited for our seniors. I've been thinking about it all year long, how I really want it to end. And they say being there is half the battle, right? So some great things can happen next weekend, but you have to be there to make it happen and we did the hard part."