The UConn women’s basketball squad left no doubt Tuesday night who was the nation’s top team.

The No. 1 Huskies looked the part for 40 minutes in routing No. 2 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament title tilt in Nashville.

UConn used a dominating second-half performance to throttle the Irish 79-58 in the season finale in Bridgestone Arena.

The Huskies not only cap off a perfect 40-0 season, but lay claim to their second straight national championship and the ninth in the illustrious history of their program.

UConn, which defeated the Irish 83-65 in the semifinals a year ago, also completes its fifth undefeated season. Coach Geno Auriemma also passes legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who won eight national titles with the Lady Vols.

Notre Dame, which had won seven of the previous nine meetings with former Big East rival UConn, finishes at 37-1.

The Huskies also join the UConn men’s team as champions. UConn defeated Kentucky 60-54 Monday night to win the program’s fourth national title, all since 1999. The two programs are now a combined 13-0 all-time in national championship contests. This year is just the second time in history that both the men’s and women’s teams from the same school have won NCAA Tourney titles. UConn also did it in 2004.

The Huskies used a 17-2 run to open the second half to turn the game into a rout. UConn led 45-38 at halftime before the surge put them in complete control.

The Irish led just once in the game at 8-6. UConn then went on a 16-0 run to take a 22-8 lead. The Irish rallied within 29-23 on a 3-pointer by Kayla McBride before the Huskies answered with another run to make it 37-25. Jewell Loyd then hit a pair of treys to pull the Irish within 43-38 at the break.

UConn super sophomore Breanna Stewart, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four for the second straight year, had 14 first half points. McBride had 13 and Michaela Mabrey added 10 off the bench for the Irish, who hit 5-8 threes in the opening half to stay close.

The Huskies absolutely dominated in the paint to the tune of a 32-10 scoring edge in the opening half. Stewart, a 6-4 forward,  and 6-5 senior Stefanie Dolson dominated the interior as the Irish missed big time Natalie Achonwa. The 6-3 senior center missed the contest after suffering a torn ACL in her left knee in the regional title game win over Baylor on March 31.

The Huskies held the Irish, the top scoring team in the nation at 86.8 points-per-game, to a season low point total. The previous low for the Irish was 69 points in a 69-53 win over Duke in the ACC Championship Game on March 9. The Irish had scored 93, 84, 89, 88 and 87 points in their five previous NCAA Tournament game wins.

The Irish, who were outscored 52-22 in points in the paint, also shot a season-low 35 percent from the field.

UConn, which has now won 46 games in a row since a loss to the Irish in the Big East Tournament title game a year ago, was only allowing 47.6 ppg. prior to Tuesday night.

Stewart, the AP National Player of the Year,  finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Dolson had 17 points and 16 rebounds, while junior Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis added 18 and senior Bria Hartley 13.

The Huskies shot 34-73 overall from the field, including 4-19 on 3-pointers, and were 7-15 from the free throw line. UConn had a huge 54-31 rebounding edge, which included 22 offensive rebounds. The champions also dished out 25 assists in the rout.

McBride, who helped the Irish reach four straight Final Fours, had 21 points. Sophomore Loyd had 13, but was just 4-15 from the field.

The Irish shot 22-62 overall and were 6-19 on threes.

Notre Dame’s senior class of McBride, Achonwa and Ariel Braker went 138-15 to set a program record for wins in a four-year span.