Connecticut Nears Perfection
After top-ranked Connecticut won its ninth straight Big East title and moved within a game of an undefeated regular season, Coach Geno Auriemma wanted his four seniors to let it sink in.
“It’s not easy, that’s why I want these guys to appreciate it,” Auriemma said after Connecticut beat Rutgers, 80-42, Saturday at Piscataway, N.J.
The four seniors to whom Auriemma was referring--Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Williams and Ashja Jones--have posted a 129-9 record.
Cash had 18 points, Bird had 14, and Jones and Williams shut down the inside as the Huskies (29-0, 15-0) ran their regular-season unbeaten streak to 37 games.
Connecticut, which has held opponents under 50 points in 18 of its 29 wins, will close out its regular season Tuesday at West Virginia.
The Scarlet Knights fell to 8-18, 5-10. The 18 losses are the most for C. Vivian Stringer in a 30-year coaching career.
No. 7 Louisiana Tech 67, Tulsa 62--Ayana Walker had 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Techsters (20-4, 15-1) took the Western Athletic Conference’s regular-season title with a victory over host Tulsa (16-11, 11-6).
Louisiana Tech Coach Leon Barmore fainted and fell to the floor midway through the first half after an argument at the scorers’ table over what he claimed was an incorrect possession arrow following a jump ball. Barmore got to his feet seconds later and walked back into the tunnel leading to the dressing room. He returned to the bench after a few minutes.
OTHER TOP 25 GAMES
Stacey Dales scored 30 points and Rosalind Ross added 18, all on three-pointers, as No. 3 Oklahoma defeated Missouri, 90-70, at Columbia, Mo. Oklahoma (23-3, 13-2 Big 12) clinched the outright regular-season conference title for the second consecutive year. ... Jenny Roulier had 25 points for No. 11 Colorado, which beat 12th-ranked Kansas State, 79-58, at Boulder, Colo., for its 10th victory in 12 games. Colorado is 20-8, 10-5 in the Big 12; Kansas State is 22-6, 10-5. ... Angie Welle scored 21 points as No. 13 Iowa State (21-6, 9-6 Big 12) overcame sloppy play to beat Kansas (5-23, 0-15), 77-59, at Ames, Iowa. ... Heather Schreiber scored 16 points as No. 15 Texas (18-8, 9-6 Big 12) had its best offensive output this season in a 91-63 victory over Texas A&M; (13-14, 5-10) at Austin, Texas. ... Jia Perkins scored 23 points and Natalie Ritchie added 21, making six three-pointers, as No. 17 Texas Tech (17-9, 8-7 Big 12) beat Nebraska (14-14, 4-11), 99-57, at Lubbock, Texas. ... Angie Gorton had 18 points and eight rebounds as No. 20 Colorado State (21-5, 10-2 Mountain West) beat Wyoming (12-13, 4-8), 64-62, in overtime at Laramie, Wyo. ... Amber Jacobs scored 26 points as No. 21 Boston College (21-5, 12-3 Big East) routed St. John’s (3-23, 0-15), 85-43, at New York. ... No. 22 Notre Dame (19-7, 13-2 Big East) overcame a halftime deficit and cruised to an 86-66 victory over Georgetown (12-14, 4-11) at Washington.... Mimi Riley scored a career-high 34 points in her final home game--most for a Big East player this season--as Villanova (17-9, 11-4) beat No. 24 Virginia Tech (17-9, 8-7), 76-64, at Philadelphia.