Women’s Basketball Roundup : No. 1 Tennessee Rips USC, 102-69

The USC women’s basketball team committed 31 turnovers and shot only 44% Tuesday night as the No. 17-ranked Trojans lost to No. 1 Tennessee, 102-69, before 2,115 at Knoxville, Tenn.

Center Shelia Frost had 26 points, including 21 in the first half, and reserve forward Kelli Casteel scored 15 second-half points to lead the Lady Vols.

After trailing, 41-24, at halftime, USC cut the margin to 60-49 on a layup by Rosalind Hodge with 9:26 to play. The Lady Vols then went on a 15-0 scoring surge to finish off the Trojans.

USC was led by center Cherie Nelson, who finished with 36 points and 9 rebounds.

Tennessee, which defeated Cal State Long Beach, 88-74, Saturday, improved to 5-0. USC is 2-2.

UCLA 76, Pepperdine 68--Molly Tideback scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds and Sandra VanEmbricqs added 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Bruins to their third straight victory at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA had a 36-26 lead at halftime and a 15-point advantage in the second half, but Pepperdine pulled within 4 points with 3:33 remaining.

Pepperdine (3-3) kept the game close until Tideback and point guard Michelle Miles made 4 of 6 free throws to put the game away for UCLA (3-2).