Penn State Cures Its Purdue Problem

Maren Walseth had 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as the Nittany Lions No. 6 Penn State beat No. 15 Purdue, 78-67, at State College, Pa.

The Big Ten-leading Lady Lions (20-3, 11-1) cleared their biggest hurdle to a conference title. Their remaining games are against four of the five worst teams in the conference.

With their victory over Purdue last month, the Lions swept the Boilermakers (17-6, 9-4) after losing five in a row since 1997. The Boilermakers had an eight-game winning streak ended.

No. 2 Tennessee 97, Florida 78--Tamika Catchings scored 19 points to lead the Lady Vols (21-3, 9-1) to a Southeastern Conference victory over the Gators (14-9, 4-6) at Knoxville, Tenn.

Kansas State 69, No. 8 Iowa State 63--Kristen Rethman had 15 points on five three-pointers at Manhattan, Kan., to help the Wildcats (11-12, 3-8) beat the Cyclones (18-4, 9-2) in Big 12 action for their first victory against a ranked opponent in five tries this season.

No. 11 North Carolina State 67, Clemson 58--Terah James scored eight of her team-high 16 points in the final 2:07 as the Wolfpack (20-4, 11-2) held off the Tigers (16-8, 7-5) in Atlantic Coast Conference game at Raleigh, N.C.

No. 12 UC Santa Barbara 73, Long Beach State 63--Erin Buescher scored 28 points as the Gauchos (21-3, 9-0) ended the 49ers’ five-game winning steak with a Big West victory at Long Beach. Rhonda Smith had 26 points for Long Beach State (13-8, 7-2).

No. 13 Auburn 69, Alabama 59--LeCoe Willingham scored 19 points to lead the Tigers (18-5, 6-4) past the Crimson Tide (14-9, 4-6) in SEC action, the Tigers’ first win in Tuscaloosa, Ala., since 1988.

No. 18 Old Dominion 91, American 51--Okeisha Howard and Kim Giddens each scored career highs of 19 points as the Lady Monarchs (18-4, 11-0) defeated the Eagles (11-10, 4-7) in a Colonial Athletic Assn. game at Norfolk, Va.

No. 21 Mississippi State 84, Albany (N.Y.) 34--LaToya Thomas scored 27 points in 27 minutes to lead the Bulldogs (18-5) to an easy victory over the Great Danes (9-15) at Starkville, Miss.

No. 22 Virginia 57, Arkansas State 55--Renee Robinson made two free throws with four-tenths of a second remaining and the Cavaliers (19-6) barely avoided another stunning loss to the Lady Indians (14-6) at Charlottesville, Va.

Nebraska 75, No. 23 Kansas 72--Nicole Kubik had 29 points and nine rebounds as the Cornhuskers (12-10, 6-5) held off the Jayhawks (17-6, 8-3) in a Big 12 game at Lincoln, Neb.