Connecticut's NCAA record winning streak is on the line every time the Huskies play.

Also at stake Saturday night is the No. 1 ranking and possibly the inside track to player of the year honors.

		Fri., Jan. 31 Will Duke and UConn turn into the Alana Beard-Diana Taurasi show? The coaches think that might not happen. "I won't be surprised if someone else from both teams really steps up and has a great game,'' Duke's Gail Goestenkors said. "Alana and Diana both want their teams to win more than they want to score points or do anything individually.'' And UConn's Geno Auriemma said, "Funny things happen in big games like that. I don't think those guys have to prove anything to anybody.'' As for comparing the teams' "second-best players,'' that edge goes to Duke with junior Iciss Tillis (15.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg). Duke also has so-called role players with more game-time experience in seniors Michele Matyasovsky and Sheana Mosch and junior Vicki Krapohl. Both coaches have relied on freshmen to make an impact. Ann Strother has started every game for the Huskies, is averaging 10.5 points and has gotten very little of the legendary Auriemma invective. She came to college really ready to play. Another UConn rookie, Barbara Turner, averages 9.9 points. Mistie Bass is Duke's third-leading scorer at 8.9 ppg and has provided needed muscle/toughness inside, especially after the loss of sophomore Monique Currie for the season because of an ACL injury. Lindsey Harding gives another injection of Beard-like quickness on perimeter defense. Jessica Foley is a shooter who has been emerging of late. Goestenkors compared the game to a chess match, saying both teams have similar strategic philosophies. "They like to post up Diana or Ann Strother down low when they see mismatches, and we do the same things,'' Goestenkors said. "I believe it's going to be a great game. And it's the first for both of us (this season) where we both should just enjoy it.''

Connecticut travels to Cameron Indoor Stadium for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown with top-ranked and fellow unbeaten Duke.

"I'm so ready for this game. The hype has been incredible," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said. "It's all people want to talk about. I am so thankful it is finally here. It's time."

UConn (19-0) will be trying to extend its 58-game winning streak, the longest in women's Division I history. Duke (20-0) will be looking to break the record for best start to a season by an Atlantic Coast Conference team, set by Virginia in 1985-86.

The Huskies also will be trying to complete a sweep of last season's other three Final Four teams. They already beat Oklahoma in a rematch of the national championship game and edged Tennessee 63-62 in overtime.

Duke also played Tennessee, routing the Lady Vols 76-55 in the Jimmy V Classic in November in another No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.

The game also features two of the nation's best players, and the one who plays better Saturday night could emerge as the favorite to be player of the year.

Diana Taurasi has done everything for the Huskies after four starters were lost from last season's national championship team. She leads UConn with 17.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, and made a number of key plays down the stretch in the victory over Tennessee on Jan. 4.

Duke's Alana Beard, also an outstanding defensive player, averages 23.5 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 56.3 percent.

"I mean the thing with Alana is obviously going to be within the game, but I don't think either one of us is going to try to go out there and outdo anyone," Taurasi said.

"I know I am just going to go out there and play to our advantages and help everyone on the team play well and pull out a victory. I am not going out there to prove myself for an award at the end of the season, so I think I will just go out and play the game."

With Beard leading the way, Duke has one big advantage over UConn in experience. The Blue Devils have five juniors or seniors among their top six players, while Taurasi is the only one of the Huskies' top four scorers who is older than a sophomore.

With Duke having that experience advantage, and what should be a huge boost from playing at Cameron, UConn might be considered the underdog Saturday. If the Huskies do win, it will likely be because they were able to slow down a Duke team that is much better offensively. The Blue Devils average 83.9 points and outscore teams by 30.9 points, tops in the nation.

At home, they score 92.8 per game on 52.9 percent shooting.

UConn counters with the nation's best defense, limiting opponents to 50.1 points and 31.6 percent shooting. The Huskies have not allowed more than 62 points in a game this season.

The teams are meeting for the first time since UConn's 104-74 rout on Nov. 13, 1998, equaling Duke's second-worst loss in Goestenkors' 11 years.

This is the 37th time that the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in The Associated Press poll are meeting, with the top-ranked team winning 21 games. UConn has played in nine such games, going 7-2.