WASHINGTON — Forever linked to 0-29, Fordham's Megan Mahoney goes down as the best player on the team with the worst record in NCAA women's basketball history.

"It's going to be upsetting," said the freshman guard with the beautiful rainbow 3-point shot and nothing in her collegiate win column. "But we're going to turn heads as the years go on. We're going to be the big upset to all the other teams."

Fordham set a new mark for futility yesterday with a 66-27 season-ending loss to No. 15 George Washington, giving the Rams one loss more than the 0-28 teams of Charleston in 1990-91 and Centenary in 1999-2000.

The Rams have lost 33 straight games overall, their last victory a 74-65 win over Duquesne on Feb. 4, 2007. Fordham went 3-25 last season under first-year coach Cathy Andruzzi, who took over a decimated program that has enjoyed little success in decades.

"It's really funny because people look at the record, and they don't know the program history," Andruzzi said. "You've got to know what we inherited. ... We're in a building process — not rebuilding because there's nothing to rebuild from. We have a ways to go."

Fordham is well short of the NCAA record for consecutive losses over multiple seasons, 58 by Long Island University from 1987-89.

Fate was not kind to the Rams (0-14 Atlantic 10). They lost twice in overtime this season and had several other close games. Had they won just one of those, they would be remembered — then quickly forgotten — as simply a young, injury-riddled team having a bad season.

As it was, they lost them all, finishing with only eight players healthy enough to dress. Four of them were freshmen, including Mahoney, an exciting one-woman show and a player to build a program around.

"We never gave up — no matter what anybody was saying about us," said Mahoney, who scored 15 points in the finale. "We just worked hard."

George Washington (24-5, 12-2) had an early 19-0 run.

NO. 1 CONNECTICUT 77, DEPAUL 76

CHICAGO — Ketia Swanier hit the go-ahead layup with 1.6 seconds left and the Huskies (28-1, 14-1 Big East) rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the Blue Demons (18-10, 7-8).

NO. 4 RUTGERS 64, SYRACUSE 49

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Essence Carson and Matee Ajavon each scored 14 points in their final home game, and the Scarlet Knights (24-4, 14-1 Big East) hit a season-high 10 3-pointers to beat the Orange (21-7, 9-6).

NO. 20 TEXAS A&M 72, NO. 8 BAYLOR 53

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Morenike Atunrase had 24 points as the Aggies (22-7, 10-5) beat the Bears (24-4, 12-3) to spoil Baylor's chance to clinch at least a share of the regular season Big 12 title.

NO. 13 WEST VIRGINIA 78, LOUISVILLE 70

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Meg Bulger and Olayinka Sanni each scored 20 points and the Mountaineers (23-5, 12-3) beat the Cardinals (20-8, 9-6) to clinch a first-round bye in the Big East tournament.

NO. 14 NOTRE DAME 70, SETON HALL 55

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Charel Allen scored 22 points and the Irish (23-6, 11-4) made all eight of their free throws in the final 1:25 to beat the Pirates (13-14, 3-12) and clinch a first-round bye in the Big East tournament.

NO. 17 OKLAHOMA ST. 73, TEXAS TECH 54

STILLWATER, Okla. — Sophomore Andrea Riley scored 21 points to pass the 1,000-point plateau for her career and lead the Cowgirls (22-6, 10-5 Big 12) over the Red Raiders (16-13, 4-11).

NO. 19 UTEP 65, TULSA 50

EL PASO, Texas — Kasia Krezel scored 13 points and Natasha Lacy had 12 to help the Miners (25-2, 16-0) increase their Conference USA-record winning streak to 21 games with the win over the Golden Hurricane (10-19, 6-10).

NO. 21 KANSAS STATE 81, MISSOURI 52

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Shalee Lehning matched her career high with 21 points to help the Wildcats (20-8, 12-3 Big 12) beat the Tigers (9-19, 2-13).

NO. 25 MARIST 71, ST. PETER'S 58

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Meg Dahlman and Nikki Flores scored 17 points each to lead the Red Foxes (28-2, 18-0 Mid Atlantic Athletic Conference) over the Peacocks (18-11, 10-8).