Times wires
Saturday, February 26, 2011
WASHINGTON — No. 1 Connecticut overcame a season-high 26 turnovers to beat No. 18 Georgetown 52-42 and clinch its 19th regular-season title in the Big East's 23-year history.
Eight turnovers came in a span of 10 second-half possessions against a Hoyas team that presses throughout games. And the 52 points were the fewest for the Huskies (28-1, 15-0) since a 73-50 loss to LSU in the 2006-07 region final.
"We've never been a team that's solely focused on the win," said Maya Moore, who scored a team-high 20. "It's always been how we win. So when we don't win the way we know we can, it's not as sweet."
Georgetown (21-8, 9-6) faltered because it turned the 26 turnovers into only 20 points.
"We gave that one away," said Monica McNutt, its only senior. "I'm a little bit sour about that."
No. 2 Stanford 99, Ore. 60: The host Cardinal (26-2, 17-0) led 31-10 midway through the first half and clinched its 11th consecutive Pac-10 regular-season title.
No. 24 Marquette 60, No. 7 De Paul 53: Tatiyiana McMorris scored 16 for the host Golden Eagles (22-6, 10-5, Big East), who pulled away after the Blue Demons (25-5, 12-3) rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit.
No. 8 N. Dame 66, Cincy 48: Up 28-20, the host Irish (24-5, 13-2 Big East) opened the second half with a 21-0 run.
No. 17 Wis.-Green Bay 93, Butler 57: Kayla Tetschlag scored 16 of her 20 during the first half for the host Phoenix (26-1, 16-0 Horizon).
Rutgers 67, No. 19 W. Va. 58: Chelsey Lee's go-ahead three-point play with 1:02 left lifted the host Knights. The Mountaineers (21-8, 7-8 Big East) were outscored 12-2 over the final 2:35.
No. 23 'zaga 80, San Diego 58: Courtney Vandersloot scored 20 for the host Bulldogs (26-4, 14-0), who went undefeated in the West Coast Conference for the second straight season.
No. 25 Iowa St. 58, Kan. St. 51: The visiting Cyclones (20-8, 8-6 Big 12) pulled away with a 14-4 run in which they didn't allow a field goal for seven minutes.
Late basket lifts USF
PHILADELPHIA — Andrea Smith's layup off a baseline drive with six seconds left lifted USF to a 59-58 win over Villanova.
The Bulls (11-18, 2-13 Big East), who broke a seven-game skid, took a 57-55 lead with 1:06 left on a steal and layup by Leondra Doomes-Stephens (game-high 19 points). The Wildcats retook the lead on Lindsay Kimmel's 3-pointer with 15 seconds left.
Tampa 73, Fla. Tech 62: Lindsey Watson scored four of her 21 during the host Spartans' late 8-0 run. The win earned Tampa (20-6, 12-4) the second seed in the Sunshine State Conference tournament. It hosts No. 7 Lynn in Wednesday's quarters while No. 4 Eckerd hosts No. 5 Rollins.
Barry 62, Saint Leo 49: Nadia Tijani had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the visiting Bucs. Because only eight of the nine teams qualify for the SSC tournament, it marked the last game for Saint Leo coach Chanita Olds. She resigned Friday and went 9-18 (1-15 SSC) this season and 61-104 over six.