No. 2 South Carolina bounces back for win
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tiffany Mitchell scored 22 points, Alaina Coates had her 13th doubledouble this season with 14 points and 11 rebounds and No. 2 South Carolina bounced back from its loss to top-ranked Uconn with an 86- 71 victory over No. 16 Florida on Thursday night.
The Gamecocks ( 23- 1, 11- 0 Southeastern Conference) overcame a sluggish start — likely a hangover from its 6654 showdown loss to the Huskies here Monday night. They went on a 16-0 run in the second quarter to take control, up 35-16.
The Gators (19-5, 7-4) closed to 65- 57 with seven minutes left when Coates had two inside baskets to restore South Carolina’s double-digit lead.
Carla Batchelor had a career-high 19 points to lead the Gators, who have lost seven straight to South Carolina.
No. 5 Maryland 73,
Purdue 59
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored 23, Brionna Jones had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Maryland beat Purdue for a season sweep.
Coming off a 94- 86 loss at Ohio State, the Terrapins (22-3, 11-2 Big Ten) never trailed in defeating the Boilermakers for the second time in nine days.
Ashley Morrissette led Purdue ( 16- 8, 7- 6) with 18 points and the Boilermakers have dropped three in a row and six of eight.
No. 7 Ohio State 98,
Iowa 81
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Kelsey Mitchell and Shayla Cooper each scored 20 points and Ohio State blasted Iowa for its eighth straight victory.
Ameryst Alton had 18 with six assists for the Buckeyes ( 20- 4, 12- 1 Big Ten), who also won in Iowa City for the first time in eight years.
Ally Disterhoft had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Iowa (15-10, 5-8), losers of three straight and six of eight.
No. 10 Florida State 69,
Duke 53
DURHAM, N. C. — Shakayla Thomas scored 14 points and Florida State beat Duke for its 10th straight win.
Kai James added 11 points for the Seminoles ( 20- 4, 10- 1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
They never trailed in their first win at Cameron Indoor
Stadium since 2001. Freshman Angela Salvadores had 13 points for the Blue Devils (179, 6-6), who lost their third in four games and already have their most conference losses since finishing with seven in 1996-97.
No. 15 Texas A&M 64, No. 11 Mississippi St. 58
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Courtney Williams had 22 points and Courtney Walker had 21 and Texas A&M defeated Mississippi State.
With a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter, Williams knocked down a 3 and the Bulldogs never caught up.
Williams had 11 points, Walker 15 and Texas A&M (177, 7-4 SEC) shot 60 percent in
the second half (15 of 25).
Morgan William scored 18 points to lead Mississippi State (21-5, 8-4).
No. 12 Louisville 84,
Pittsburgh 61
PITTSBURGH — Myisha hinesallen had a career- high 29 points, Cortnee Walton had a double-double and Louisville rolled to a win over Pittsburgh.
Walton hit 8 of 9 shots for a career- high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, seven on the offensive end, for the Cardinals (19-6, 11-1 ACC), who bounced back after their 15game winning streak was ended by No. 3 Notre Dame on Sunday.
Mariya Moore had 21 points and six assists.