Strother Comes Home to Lead Connecticut

Ann Strother made her homecoming a successful one, scoring a game-high 20 points Thursday night to help No. 8 Connecticut avoid its first losing streak in 12 seasons with a 63-44 win over Colorado State at Fort Collins, Colo.

Strother, the best player in Colorado when she went to high school near Denver, was the best player in this game, as well. She made four three-point baskets early to keep the Huskies (5-2) ahead while they were struggling and was key in a late defensive clampdown that turned a close game into a runaway.

After Vanessa Espinoza made a basket to pull the Rams (6-4) within 32-30 early in the second half, Connecticut held Colorado State to two field goals over the next 16 minutes to extend its lead to as large as 23 points.

Espinoza and Melissa Dennett led Colorado State with 11 points each. The Rams only shot 32% and went one for 15 from three-point range.

Barbara Turner had 12 points, and Jessica Moore had 10 points and eight rebounds to help the Huskies avoid consecutive losses for the first time since 1992-93.

No. 13 Minnesota 74, Drake 57 -- Kelly Roysland scored 15 points, including 10 in a row during a key two-minute span, to lift the Gophers (9-2) over the Bulldogs (5-4) at Minneapolis.

Roysland gave the Gophers a much-needed spark off the bench against pesky Drake, which trailed by 21 points in the first half but closed within three early in the second.