Connecticut Reclaims Tournament

Connecticut is back atop the Big East.

Led by the inside-outside combination of Barbara Turner and Ann Strother, the No. 13 Huskies defeated Rutgers, 67-51, Tuesday night to win the Big East tournament at Hartford, Conn.

Turner, the tournament most valuable player, anchored a dominating inside game for the Huskies (23-7), who were back in the title game for the first time since 2003.

The three-time defending national champions were in control from the start and led by as many as 21 points in the first half.

The ninth-ranked Scarlet Knights (25-6), known for their defense and transition game, could get no closer than nine points. Rutgers shot only 32% and got few second chances against the Huskies, who grabbed 30 defensive boards.

Strother finished with 20 points and had three of UConn’s four three-point baskets. Turner, who was averaging 17 points going into the title game, scored 13 and had six rebounds in 18 minutes of play. A knee injury in the first half forced her to sit out the final 7:48 of the period and in her absence, the Scarlet Knights made their only run -- an 8-0 spurt.

But as other teams in the tournament wilted under Rutgers’ vaunted press, the Huskies regrouped and regained control en route to their 11th tournament title in 14 years.

Top-seeded Rutgers (25-6) won the regular-season title outright, ending UConn’s reign of 11 straight regular-season titles. The Scarlet Knights were in search of their first tournament title in four appearances.

The Huskies outrebounded Rutgers, 47-29, and outscored the Scarlet Knights, 34-24, in the post.

Matee Ajavon led Rutgers with 20 points and Cappie Pondexter added 19. The Huskies were able to hold Chelsea Newton to one point after she had been averaging 17 for the tournament.

No. 18 Iowa State 64, Colorado 62 -- Lyndsey Medders made a game-winning three-point basket with 0.2 seconds left, sending the Cyclones (23-5, 12-4) past the Buffaloes (8-19, 2-14) in the first round of the Big 12 tournament at Kansas City, Mo.

Katie Robinette added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Cyclones, who trailed, 50-42, with 6:45 remaining. The Cyclones will face No. 14 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals today.

Yari Escalera had a career-high 19 points for Colorado, coached by Ceal Barry for the last time. Barry, who led the Buffaloes for 22 years, announced her resignation last month and finished with a 427-241 record.