Tennessee Utilizes Defense to Win, 59-56

Tennessee’s normally potent offense struggled, but there was nothing wrong with its defense at Auburn, Ala., on Sunday. The No. 3 Lady Vols survived their biggest scare of the Southeastern Conference season before beating Auburn, 59-56.

The Lady Vols, 22-3 overall, 10-0 in the SEC, recorded their 13th consecutive victory despite making only two of six free throws in the final 58 seconds, shooting 35% and making two of 15 three-point attempts.

Natasha Brackett, who led Auburn (17-7, 5-5) with 20 points, made two three-point shots during a 14-second span to cut Tennessee’s lead to 58-56 with 33 seconds left.

No. 1 Connecticut 84, Seton Hall 44 -- The Huskies (24-0, 11-0 Big East) used a balanced attack at Storrs, Conn., to run the longest winning streak in women’s basketball history to 63 games.

Connecticut is 25 victories shy of tying the UCLA men’s team, which holds the NCAA record for consecutive wins set from 1971-74.

No. 8 North Carolina 70, Clemson 66 -- At Chapel Hill, N.C., the Tar Heels (23-2, 12-1 ACC) posted their eighth consecutive league victory and fourth in a row over the Tigers (12-11, 4-8).

No. 9 Purdue 79, Illinois 67 -- The Boilermakers (20-4, 9-3 Big Ten) improved to 12-0 at West Lafayette, Ind. The Illini (14-9, 6-6) haven’t won at Mackey Arena since 1984 and have lost 28 of their last 30 against the Boilermakers.

Iowa 80, No. 12 Penn State 75 -- Kristi Faulkner converted a three-point play with 32 seconds left to lead the Hawkeyes (13-10, 5-8 Big Ten) at Iowa City. Kelly Mazzante, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, scored 26 points for the Nittany Lions (21-6, 11-2).

No. 15 South Carolina 83, No. 13 Arkansas 59 -- At Columbia, S.C., South Carolina (18-6, 6-5 SEC) beat a ranked opponent for the first time in eight games since winning at then No. 17 Vanderbilt on Jan. 16. The Razorbacks are 19-6, 6-4.

No. 18 Vanderbilt 58, No. 14 Georgia 56 -- Abi Ramsey made two free throws with 0.07 of a second left for the Commodores (17-7, 7-4 SEC) at Nashville. The Bulldogs are 17-6 and 8-2.

No. 16 Mississippi State 96, Kentucky 46 -- The Bulldogs (18-6, 6-4 SEC) never trailed the Wildcats (9-13, 2-8) at Starkville, Miss. The Bulldogs shot 59% to Kentucky’s 37%.

No. 17 Minnesota 73, No. 22 Ohio State -- Janel McCarville scored 20 points and had 17 rebounds at Minneapolis in her first game back for the Gophers (19-4, 8-4 Big Ten) since sustaining a concussion Feb. 9 at Indiana. The Buckeyes are 17-6 and 8-5.

No. 23 Rutgers 67, Pittsburgh 53 -- Cappie Pondexter scored 21 points at Piscataway, N.J., to help the Scarlet Knights (16-5, 9-2 Big East) extend their winning streak to seven games. Laine Selwyn had 14 points for the Panthers (10-12, 2-9).

No. 25 Boston College 65, Virginia Tech 47 -- The Eagles (16-6, 8-3 Big East) took control with a 17-3 run at the start of the second half at Boston. The Hokies (17-6, 8-4) lost for only the second time in nine games.