Santa Barbara’s Rally Runs Winning Streak to 23

Stacy Clinesmith scored 26 points Saturday night as ninth-ranked UC Santa Barbara defeated UC Irvine, 72-68, at Irvine for its 23rd consecutive victory.

The Gauchos, 27-3 overall and 15-0 in the Big West Conference, rallied from a 34-24 halftime deficit.

“We talked in the locker room at halftime that if we didn’t pick it up,” Clinesmith said, “our dreams of hosting the NCAA tournament would be shattered.”

Irvine (12-15, 5-10) was led by Megan Stafford, who had 20 points and 11 assists.

No. 17 Mississippi State 62, No. 2 Georgia 61--Nitra Perry made two free throws with 1:42 to play as the Lady Bulldogs (23-6) upset Georgia (29-3) at Chattanooga, Tenn., to reach the Southeastern Conference tournament final for the first time.

No. 2 Tennessee 61, Vanderbilt 53--Michelle Snow made her first six shots and finished with 20 points to lead the Lady Vols (27-3) over the Commodores (20-12) in the semifinals of the SEC tournament.

No. 4 Louisiana Tech 108, New Orleans 61--Tamicha Jackson scored 32 points as the Lady Techsters (25-2, 16-0) extended their winning streak to 15 games by routing the Privateers (11-16, 7-9) in a Sun Belt Conference game at Ruston, La.

No. 5 Penn State 81, Illinois 74--Andrea Garner scored a season-high 22 points as the Lady Lions (26-3) defeated the Illini (22-10) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament at Indianapolis.

No. 12 Duke 92, Florida State 65--Georgia Schweitzer scored 18 points to lead the Blue Devils (24-5) over the Seminoles (12-17) in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament at Greensboro, N.C.

Georgia Tech 71, No. 15 North Carolina State 62--Milli Martinez scored 12 of her 16 points in the last eight minutes to help the Yellow Jackets (15-12) upset the Wolfpack (20-8) in an ACC tournament quarterfinal.

No. 18 Purdue 74, No. 22 Michigan 59--Katie Douglas and Camille Cooper each scored 21 points as the Boilermakers (26-3) upended the Wolverines (22-7) in a Big Ten tournament semifinal.

No. 19 Boston College 70, West Virginia 53--Brianne Stepherson scored 15 points to lead the Eagles (24-7) over the Mountaineers (6-22) in the first round of the Big East Conference tournament at Storrs, Conn.

Oregon 75, No. 20 Arizona 71--Shaquala Williams scored 24 points as the Ducks (22-7, 13-4) erased a 22-point deficit to defeat the Wildcats (22-6, 11-5) in a Pacific 10 Conference game at Tucson.

No. 23 Tulane 91, Cincinnati 78--Grace Daley scored 29 points to help the Green Wave (24-4) beat the Bearcats (17-12) in a Conference USA tournament quarterfinal.

Alabama Birmingham 71, No. 24 Marquette 61--Holly Holland scored 17 points to lead the Blazers (18-11) over the Golden Eagles (22-6) in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament at Louisville, Ky.