(WTNH) _ For the first time in four years the women's basketball team returning to the final four.  While the Huskies may have come up a little short in their quest for a sixth championship they gave us quite a ride.

The UConn women arrived with high expectations.   Stanford was the team to beat as the #1 team in the country.

The Final Four was uncharted territroy for this group of Huskies, none had ever made it this far before.

"You have to let them experience it.  Get them focused on basketball when it's time for basketball, but the rest of the time let them be part of the experience, I think that's what coming here is all about," said UConn Women's Basketball Coach, Geno Auriemma.

The UConn faithful cheered the huskies every move as Connecticut prepared for Stanford, they had reason to believe.

"Is there something about this team that strikes you?
"Maya Moore," said one fan named Rocky.

Moore came to the Final Four as the most talked about player in the country.  She picked up another award in Tampa, 1st team All American.  Moore and teammate Renee Montgomery were among an elite group of ten choosen by college basketball's coaches.

"Kind of standing in the back of the line walking towards the stage I'm like oh my goodness this is a big deal," said Moore.

The UConn woman also had the top coach.  Auriemma was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year.  However, the Huskies only cared about one award, The National Championship.

While Huskies prepared for the present, theid future was already in action just miles away.

UConn recruits Elena Della Donne and Tiffany Hayes wowed the crowd during a high school all american game.  Landing Della Donne, the countries #1 recrui, took some work.

Once Auriemma had her on his team, he could relax.

"He fell asleep. On my official, so got to get on him about that," said Della Donne.

"Sometimes I do my best recruiting while I'm asleep," said Auriemma.

"We had a big italian meal, he had some wine. so i guess he was tired," said Della Donne.

"After I had eaten and dessert was served there was no point staying up anymore," said Auriemma.

"It made us feel like he was comfortable, so I was happy with that.
"Does he drool or snore while he sleeps?"
"No actually he was quite attractive while sleeping," said Della Donne.

There was no nodding off on the way to the Sunshine State.  At 36-1 UConn rolled into their semi-final game with Stanford confident, yet cautious.  This wan't the same team they beat earlier in the year.

"They're comfortable with hitting a big shot," said Montgomery.  "They're comfortable hitting the shots we let them have in the Virgin Islands and I think that's why they're going to be dangerous"

Stanford was dangerous.   As the hottest team in the tournament and having the hottest player, Candice Wiggins, they could do nothing wrong.

Trailing most of the game, Connecticut got within one in the 2nd half, but that was it.  Stanford put an end to UConn's season, 82-73.  The Huskies came up two wins short of their ultimate goal, a national championship.

"Stanford played a great game," said Moore.  "It's not like we were cheated out of it. They won."

"When you put everything in to something, when you attack it with all your heart and soul and you come up a little bit short, it hurts.  It hurts like a son of a gun and there's no way to pretend it doesn't," Auriemma said.  "This is going to take them a while and alot of times that's what happens to get you back the next year."