UConn women win 100th straight
Add 100 consecutive wins to the UConn women’s basketball team’s long list of milestones.
Given the team’s glitzier numbers linked to national championships, 11 titles and counting, it may seem ho-hum with no added significance. Geno Auriemma’s squad already owns the longest winning streak in Division 1 college basketball history. UConn beat its own record of 90 consecutive wins earlier this season with little fanfare.
Getting No. 100 was a little tougher than many of the previous 99, which UConn won by an average 38.7 points. Gabby Williams scored a career-high 26 points and Napheesa Collier added 18 to help the top-ranked Huskies beat No. 6 South Carolina, 66-55, last night in Storrs, Conn., in front of a sellout crowd of 10,167 that included past greats Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart, who helped the Huskies to the first 75 wins of this streak.
The current group of Huskies (25-0) had to work for this win. South Carolina (21-3) used its stellar interior game of A’ja Wilson and Alaina Coates to take a 29-28 advantage late in the first half. The Huskies responded scoring the final seven points before the break. Collier and Williams had all of them, including a steal and layup by Collier with 3 seconds left that made it 35-29.
South Carolina cut its deficit to 40-37 midway through the third quarter, but Williams had consecutive layups to start an 11-2 run to close the period.
Men’s basketball
Villanova 75, DePaul 62 — In Rosemont, Ill., Jalen Brunson scored 18 points, Josh Hart had 16 and the second-ranked Wildcats (25-2, 12-2) beat the struggling Blue Demons (8-18, 1-12).
Brunson, a former Illinois prep star from nearby Lincolnshire, went 4-for-8 from the field and 8-for-9 at the free throw line in the Wildcats’ sixth straight victory. Mikal Bridges added 15 points, and Kris Jenkins finished with 13.
Kansas 84, West Virginia 80 — In Lawrence, Kan., Frank Mason III had 24 points, including two free throws to cap a frantic comeback from 14 down in the final three minutes of regulation, and the third-ranked Jayhawks (23-3, 11-2) stunned the No. 9 Mountaineers (20-6, 8-5) in overtime to assume control of the Big 12 race.
Devonte Graham added 18 points, hitting two of his five 3-pointers in the extra period, and Josh Jackson added 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Jayhawks avenged a loss in Morgantown.
Esa Ahmad scored 20 points and Tarik Phillip had 18 for the Mountaineers.
Texas Tech 84, Baylor 78 — Keenan Evans scored 23 points, Niem Stevenson had 21 and the Red Raiders (17-9, 5-8 Big 12) toppled the No. 4 Bears (22-4, 9-4) in Lubbock, Texas.
Louisville 76, Syracuse 72 — In Syracuse, N.Y., The No. 8 Cardinals (21-5, 9-4 ACC) scored 10 consecutive points in overtime, including five straight by Anas Mahmoud, to outlast the Orange (16-11, 8-6).
John Gillon sent the game to overtime on a 3-pointer for Syracuse with 40 seconds to go in regulation that tied the score at 58. In New England play: Fairfield 69, Rider 67 — Bradford’s Tyler Nelson scored 16 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 1:12 remaining, and the Stags (13-11, 8-7 MAAC rebounded from a slim halftime deficit to overcome the Broncs (14-13, 7-9).
Men’s hockey
Worcester St. 4, Fitchburg St. 2— Mitchell Purdle scored two goals as the Lancers (8-11-3, 6-8-2 MASCAC) topped the host Falcons (10-12-1, 7-8-1).