2018-19 SEASON
Selection Sunday is nine weeks away. A look at the stats, facts and story lines you might have missed this past week on the way to March Madness.
Sunday
The Connecticut women’s team bounces back from a 68-57 y beating Hou-Dse-Paul ton, 81-61. It ensures that their most impressive — and most overlooked — streak continues even as others have fallen by the wayside. That streak? Connecticut has not had a losing streak in 25 years. They have not lost as many as two in a row in 938 games dating to the start of the 1993-94 season.
How much does Xavier fear/ respect Big East scoring leader Markus Howard of Marquette? The Musketeers put 6-foot-7 Naji Marshall on the 5-11 Howard. Howard finishes with 26 points in a 70-52 win. Before the week is out, their fear/ respect will prove even more to be well-founded.
Monday
St. John’s, off to its best since 1985-86 at 14-1, moves into the AP Top 25 (No. 24) for the first time in four seasons.
Tuesday
Maryland women’s coach Brenda Frese earns her 500th career win as the No. 9-ranked Terrapins defeat Nebraska, 81-63. Frese is 443-120 in 17 seasons at Maryland and 500150 overall after stints at Ball State and Minnesota.
Wednesday
Markus Howard scores 53 points in 106-104 win vs. Creighton. His third game of 45 or more points this season increases his scoring average to 25.8. Imagine what it would be if he hadn’t somehow been held to 8 by St. John’s, 10 by Presbyterian and 15 by Maryland-Baltimore County.
• Cornell’s Matt Morgan becomes the sixth player in Ivy League history to surpass 2,000 career points, scoring 38 in an 80-74 win vs. Towson.
Thursday
Teaira McCown pulls down 21 rebounds to go with 18 points for women’s No. 7 Mississippi State in an 80-71 win vs. Georgia.
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Men’s No. 5-ranked Gonzaga is held to its lowest point total of the season — and 26 below its season average — and still beats Pacific by 31. Josh Perkins has 14 points in a 67-36 win against a Pacific team that tried to slow down the game.
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UCLA trails by 17 in the second half and is down, 7668, with 45 seconds to go in regulation and wins, 87-84, in OT vs. Oregon. It makes the Bruins 3-0 since Murry Bartow replaced Steve Alford.
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New Mexico State’s Johnny McCants doesn’t hit just any game-winner. He hits a 50-footer at the buzzer to give the Aggies a 77-75 win vs. Grand Canyon.
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Central Connecticut State’s Tyler Kohl produces the 18th triple-double in Division I this season, finishing with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 103-96 win vs. Fairleigh Dickinson in double overtime.