No. 1 vs. No. 2: UConn holds off top-ranked Duke.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Gregg Doyel

DURHAM, N.C. _ Duke coach Gail Goestenkors blinks when she's angry. Connecticut guard Diana Taurasi giggles when she's happy.

Whole lot of blinking and giggling going on Saturday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Taurasi hit her first four shots to give the Huskies a huge early lead, and No.2 Connecticut held off No. 1 Duke, 77-65, to extend the longest winning streak (59) in NCAA women's basketball history.

At the final horn Taurasi yelled, "We're No. 1," and then turned to the Cameron Crazies and mouthed the words, "Call me," while pretending her right hand was a telephone.

The first-ever sellout for a women's game at Cameron Indoor Stadium was a rout for the first 31 minutes, as Connecticut (20-0) built a 28-point lead. That came at 51-23, capping Connecticut's 25-3 run that included the final 15 points of the first half.

Appearing at times to be in disbelief, Goestenkors tried to slow the Huskies with multiple defenses, a series of timeouts and mass personnel changes. The Blue Devils rallied in the final 11 minutes behind Alana Beard, who had a game-high 26 points but finished 8-for-19 from the floor and committed six turnovers without an assist.