AROUND THE NATION

No. 1 Connecticut 79, Villanova 46--Shea Ralph and Swin Cash scored 13 points each to lead the Huskies (17-0, 6-0 Big East) to an easy victory at Villanova, Pa.

Svetlana Abrosimova scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and Sue Bird added 12 points for Connecticut. Jenea Skeeters led Villanova (9-7, 2-3) with 10 points.

No. 5 Notre Dame 76, Miami 54--Danielle Green scored a season-high 22 points at Coral Gables, Fla., as the Fighting Irish (15-2, 6-0 Big East) won their 11th consecutive game.

Notre Dame never trailed in the contest, but the Hurricanes (8-8, 2-3) made it a game after trailing by 14 points at halftime.

No. 11 Rutgers 55, West Virginia 49--Shawnetta Stewart scored 16 of her 22 points in the second half at Morgantown, W.Va., to lead Rutgers (12-4, 5-2 Big East) past the Mountaineers (5-12, 0-6).

Rutgers overcame a 28-17 halftime deficit--its largest this season--to hand West Virginia its seventh consecutive loss.

No. 15 Texas Tech 76, No. 23 Kansas 56--Aleah Johnson scored 21 points and Plenette Pierson had 17 as the Red Raiders (15-2, 4-2 Big 12) defeated the Jayhawks (12-5, 3-2) at Lubbock, Texas.

No. 20 Boston College 71, Providence 58--Alissa Murphy scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half at Providence, R.I., to spark the Eagles (16-3, 5-0 Big East) over the Friars (9-7, 4-3) for their school-record 12th straight victory.

Xavier 68, No. 24 George Washington 55--Reetta Piipari scored 20 points and led pivotal runs in each half as Xavier (15-3, 5-2 Atlantic 10) defeated George Washington (14-3, 5-1) at Cincinnati.

No. 25 Oklahoma 76, Colorado 73--Phylesha Whaley and LaNeishea Caufield each scored 21 points as the Sooners (14-1, 5-0 Big 12) defeated the Buffaloes (6-10, 1-4) at Norman, Okla.