Canty Helps Alabama Surprise Auburn

Dominique Canty scored 15 points to become Alabama’s all-time leading scorer as the No. 25 Crimson Tide beat No. 17 Auburn, 72-57, Thursday night at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Canty’s free throw with 4:55 left broke the career record of 2,134 points set by Niesa Johnson from 1992-95.

LaToya Caudle had 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for Alabama, 15-8 overall and 5-6 in the Southeastern Conference. Shana Askew led Auburn (18-5, 8-4) with 19 points.

Alabama took a 30-16 lead on a jumper by Joni Crenshaw with 5:03 left in the first half. Auburn closed to 34-25 at halftime on a jumper by Brandi Hillman, but Alabama took control in the second half.

The Tide took a 49-32 lead on an inside basket by Latrish Jones. After Auburn cut the lead to eight, Shondra Johnson made a fastbreak layup to put Alabama safely ahead, 69-54.

No. 5 Colorado State 89, Texas Christian 66--Becky Hammon scored 30 points on eight-for-11 shooting as the Rams (25-1, 10-0 Western Athletic Conference) kept rolling in league play with a victory over the Horned Frogs (12-9, 4-5) at Fort Collins, Colo.

No. 7 Duke 86, Wake Forest 48--Michele VanGorp scored 13 points and Hilary Howard added 12 as the Blue Devils (21-4, 13-0) stayed undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a rout of the Demon Deacons (6-17, 2-11) at Durham, N.C.

Duke will be seeded first in the ACC tournament.

No. 14 North Carolina 78, Maryland 63--Nikki Teasley scored 19 points and LaQuanda Barksdale keyed a 13-4 second-half surge that helped the Tar Heels (23-5, 10-4 ACC) roll past the Terrapins (5-18, 2-11) at College Park, Md.

No. 19 Clemson 69, Georgia Tech 41--Nikki Blassingame had 10 points and 16 rebounds as the Tigers (19-5, 9-5 ACC) used strong defense to defeat Georgia Tech (13-11, 6-8) at Clemson, S.C.

Arkansas 86, No. 20 Louisiana State 61--Wendi Willits scored 21 points and Lonniya Bragg added 18 as the Razorbacks (14-11, 4-7 SEC) upset the Tigers (17-6, 8-4) at Fayetteville, Ark.

No. 23 Oregon 65, Washington State 54--Brianne Meharry’s 12 points led four players in double figures as the Ducks (19-5, 10-2 Pacific 10) beat the Cougars (9-12, 3-9) at Pullman, Wash.

Meharry also led all players with nine rebounds--six offensive.

Despite making 14 of 14 from the free-throw line, the Cougars connected on only six of 23 field goals in the first half, and finished with 31% shooting.

No. 24 Florida International 79, Southwestern Louisiana 47--Dalma Ivanyi had 17 points, 10 assists and eight steals as the Golden Panthers (19-4, 7-2 Sun Belt Conference) routed the Ragin’ Cajuns (1-21, 0-9) at Miami.