Top-ranked Connecticut cruises through UCF
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Gabby Williams and Napheesa Collier each scored 16 points and top-ranked UConn beat UCF 78-56 on Sunday in the American Athletic Conference semifinals.
Crystal Dangerfield added 14 points and Katie Lou Samuelson had 12 to help the four-time defending national champion Huskies (31-0) extend their NCAA record winning streak to 106 games.
They will play South Florida on Monday night, seeking their fourth consecutive AAC Tournament championship.
The Huskies have never lost to a conference opponent in the four-year history of the league.
Zykira Lewis had 22 points for UCF (20-11).
NO. 2 BAYLOR 88, NO. 24 KANSAS STATE 71
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Nina Davis scored 24 to help Baylor beat Kansas State in the Big 12 semifinals.
Kristy Wallace set a tournament record with 15 assists, and Alexis Prince and Kalani Brown each added 18 points for Baylor (30-2). The Lady Bears will seek their seventh straight tournament title Monday night when they play West Virginia.
Karyla Middlebrook scored 20 points for Kansas State (22-10). NO. 3 NOTRE DAME 84,
NO. 13 DUKE 61 CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale scored 21 points, Brianna Turner added 18 and Notre Dame beat Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game to earn an NCAA bid.
The Fighting Irish (30-3) became the second team in ACC history to win the conference regular-season and tournament titles in four straight seasons. The Blue Devils did it from 200104.
Lexie Brown scored 16 points for Duke (27-5).
NO. 4 MARYLAND 74,
PURDUE 64 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brionna Jones had 27 points and 12 rebounds and Maryland beat Purdue to win the Big Ten Tournament championship for the third straight season.
The Terrapins (30-2) are the third team in conference history to win three consecutive titles. They also claimed the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Ashley Morisette scored 18 points for the Boilermakers (22-
12). NO. 5 SOUTH CAROLINA 59, NO. 6 MISSISSIPPI STATE
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Kaela Davis had 23 points and A'ja Wilson scored seven of her 15 points in the fourth quarter to send South Carolina to its third straight Southeastern Conference Tournament crown.
The Gamecocks (27-4) entered the fourth quarter down 45-40. Davis began the comeback with a 3-pointer and Wilson scored the next five points.
Teaira McCowan had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Mississippi State (29-4).
WEST VIRGINIA 62,
NO. 12 TEXAS 59 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tynice Martin scored 29 points, Chiana Ray made two clutch free throws and West Virginia beat Texas in the Big 12 semifinals.
The Mountaineers (22-10) have won their last three games, including tournament upsets of No. 19 Oklahoma and Texas in the tournament. They will face No. 2 Baylor.
Brooke McCarty led Texas (238) with 13 points.
NO. 18 DEPAUL 92, SETON HALL 60 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chante Stonewall had a career-high 20 points, Brooke Schulte scored all of her 16 points in the first half and DePaul routed Seton Hall in the Big East quarterfinals.
DePaul (25-6) will face either Villanova or St. John's in the semifinals.
Jayla Jones-Pack had a careerbest 13 points for Seton Hall (1219).