No. 1 UConn routs defending champions
Villanova men cruise; Temple upsets Wichita St.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kia Nurse scored 23 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 20 as No. 1 UConn powered past defending national champ South Carolina 83-58 on Thursday night.
The Huskies opened things up early to lead 53-24 at the half on their way to a 21-0 start for the fourth time in five seasons. They extended their NCAA mark with their 48th straight road win and, if anyone needed more evidence, marked themselves the clear favorite for another NCAA title.
No. 7 South Carolina (18-4) fell to 0-6 all-time against UConn and 0-15 in program history against No. 1 teams.
A’ja Wilson, the two-time defending Southeastern Conference player of the year, struggled from the field, going 4 of 18 for 14 points. She also had 16 rebounds and six blocks. Wilson was recruited hard by UConn before picking the Gamecocks and lost to the Huskies all four of her college seasons.
No. 2 MISSISSIPPI STATE 57, No. 15 MISSOURI 53: In Columbia, Mo., Victoria Vivians made a go-ahead jumper with four seconds left and Mississippi State continued its perfect season with a road victory against Missouri.
Blair Schaefer led the Bulldogs (230, 9-0 Southeastern Conference) with a season-high 20 points, but Mississippi State struggled shooting the ball all night. However, the Bulldogs’ defense held Missouri (17-6, 5-4) to just 32 percent from the field in the second half.
No. 4 LOUISVILLE 77, VIRGINIA 41: In Charlottesville, Va., Asia Durr scored 21 points and Louisville broke open a tight game with 16 consecutive points in the third quarter and beat Virginia.
Bionca Dunham added 13 points and Arica Carter 12 for the Cardinals (23-1, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Louisville led just 31-29 after Virginia scored first after halftime, but had a 51-31 lead after the scoring burst. The Cardinals outscored Virginia (15-8, 8-2) 46-14 after halftime.
No. 5 NOTRE DAME 94, NORTH CAROLINA 62: In South Bend, Ind., Marina Mabrey scored a seasonhigh 25 points and fellow guard Arike Ogunbowale added 24 as Notre Dame rolled past North Carolina for its sixth straight victory.
Kristina Nelson added 11 points for the Irish (21-2, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Jamie Cherry led the Tar Heels (148, 4-5 ACC) with 15 points.
N.C. STATE 65, No. 10 FLORIDA STATE 56: In Raleigh, N.C., Akela Maize scored eight of her 18 points in the final five minutes as North Carolina State beat Florida State.
Kiara Leslie added 16 points for the Wolfpack (18-5, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which won its sixth consecutive game.
Imani Wright scored 13 points to lead Florida State (18-4, 6-3).
No. 11 MARYLAND 88, RUTGERS 60: In College Park, Md., Kaila Charles and Eleanna Christinaki combined for 42 points on 17-of-26 shooting and Maryland rolled to a win over Rutgers.
Stephanie Jones added 16 points for the Terrapins (19-3, 8-1 Big Ten). Rutgers is 17-7, 5-5.
No. 12 TENNESSEE 87, No. 14 TEXAS A&M 62: In Knoxville, Tenn., Jaime Nared scored 23 points and Mercedes Russell had a double-double as Tennessee (18-4, 6-3 SEC) dominated the fourth quarter to pull away for a victory over Texas A&M (17-7, 6-3).
PURDUE 81, No. 13 MICHIGAN 79 (OT): In Ann Arbor, Mich., Dominique Oden scored 26 points, including the last four in regulation, and Karissa McLaughlin added 21, including back-to-back 3-pointers in overtime, and Purdue (15-8, 6-3 Big Ten) shocked Michigan (19-5, 8-3).
LSU 71, No. 17 GEORGIA 60: In Baton Rouge, La., Chloe Jackson scored 21 points, Ayana Mitchell and Raigyne Louis had double-doubles and LSU (14-6, 5-3 SEC) defeated Georgia (19-3, 7-2).
No. 19 DUKE 77, GEORGIA TECH 59: In Durham, N.C., Lexie Brown scored 24 points with six rebounds and six assists and Duke (18-5, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) tied the school record with its 30th straight regularseason home win, topping Georgia Tech (13-10, 2-8).
No. 20 GREEN BAY 58, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 41: In Green Bay, Wis., Jessica Lindstrom scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Green Bay (20-2, 10-1) beat Northern Kentucky (5-17, 3-8) to avenge its only Horizon League loss.
EASTERN NEW MEXICO 64, TARLETON STATE 59: In Portales, Jasmine Hotchkins, Sarina Johnson and Brandi Gomez each scored nine points to lead ENMU (12-8, 8-5 Lone Star) to a win over Tarleton State (14-7, 8-5).
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE 69, WESTERN NEW MEXICO 67: In Silver City, Ciara Fields scored 29 points for WNMU (0-21, 0-13 Lone Star) in a loss to A&M-Commerce (15-6, 11-2).
Men
No. 1 VILLANOVA 98, CREIGHTON 78: In Philadelphia, Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and Jalen Brunson had 19 to lead Villanova to a win over Creighton.
The Wildcats (21-1, 8-1 Big East) tied a program record with 19 3-pointers.
Creighton (17-6, 7-4) became the latest team to learn the hard way just how talented the Wildcats are and how they can win in almost any possible fashion.
No. 13 SAINT MARY’S 79, SAN FRANCISCO 43: In San Francisco, Jock Landale had 18 of his 26 points in the second half as Saint Mary’s beat San Francisco.
Emmett Naar had eight assists to pull within 18 of the school’s career record while helping the Gaels (22-2, 11-0 West Coast Conference) to their 17th consecutive win. Eldorado and UNM alum Cullen Neal added five points and six rebounds.
Jordan Ratinho had eight points to lead San Francisco (12-12, 4-7). No. 14 GONZAGA 69, SAN DIEGO 59: In Spokane, Wash., Johnathan Williams scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Gonzaga edged stubborn San Diego. Josh Perkins and Zach Norvell Jr. each scored 13 for Gonzaga (20-4, 10-1 West Coast).
Olin Carter III scored 21 points for San Diego (15-8, 6-5).
TEMPLE 81, No. 16 WICHITA STATE 79 (OT): In Philadelphia, Obi Enechionyia hit two free throws with 18.1 seconds left in overtime, and Temple (12-10, 4-6 AAC) beat Wichita State.
Shaquille Morris had 24 points for the Shockers (17-5, 7-3).
EASTERN NEW MEXICO 61, TARLETON STATE 57: In Portales, Devin Pullum led ENMU with nine points as the Greyhounds (9-12, 4-8 Lone Star) beat Tarleton State (12-9, 7-5).
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE 91, WESTERN NEW MEXICO 87 (OT): In Silver City, Davis Wade scored 23 points as WNMU (3-18, 0-12 Lone Star) fell to A&M-Commerce (17-4, 9-3) in overtime.