LINCOLN, Neb. — Geno Auriemma doesn’t listen to fans, media and opposing coaches who try to tell him that this season’s UConn team might be the best he’s had.

Auriemma says it’s unfair to players, past and present, to make comparisons. He simply believes he has the best starting five players in the country right now.

Not many would argue that. Certainly not Texas A&M.

Connecticut defeated the Aggies 69-54 Monday night to reach the NCAA women’s Final Four for the seventh straight year. The Huskies (37-0), winners of 44 straight games, will continue their quest for a record ninth national championship in Nashville. They’ll play Stanford or North Carolina on Sunday.

“Especially with kids this age, for them to do what they’ve done the whole season under some circumstances they’ve been under, it’s remarkable,” Auriemma said. “To think we’re invincible and nothing bad could happen to us, that’s crazy talk. This is really hard.”

Texas A&M coach Gary Blair is one of those people who has said the 2013-14 Huskies are the best of Auriemma’s 29 teams. Blair said UConn’s mental toughness is as impressive as its physical dominance.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis one of those players Auriemma mentioned who has overcome a lot to play her best in the postseason. An All-American last season, she missed 12 games because of two elbow injuries and a case of mononucleosis.

She continued her splendid run through the NCAA tournament with 17 points against the Aggies after having 19 points and 13 rebounds in a 70-51 win over BYU on Saturday.

Notre Dame 88, Baylor 69

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Muffet McGraw and Notre Dame have become fixtures in the Final Four.

But with Skylar Diggins gone to the WNBA, it was hard to imagine the Irish would make it back this season, let alone go undefeated in the process. Yet they are, beating Baylor 88-69 Monday night to return to the national semifinals.

“It means so much to our program. I think it’s a statement,” McGraw said. “When Skylar (Diggins) came in, I think people expected that we would be in the Final Four and then when Skylar graduated I don’t think anyone expected that we’d be back in the Final Four. So I think it says a lot about this team.”

Jewell Loyd scored 30 points and the unbeaten Irish continued their quest for perfection in front of a raucous home crowd.

Natalie Achonwa added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Irish (36-0), who will bring a perfect record into the Final Four for the first time, facing either Louisville or Maryland on Sunday night in Nashville.