Walker scores 26, No. 4 UConn routs Notre Dame
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Megan Walker scored 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds Sunday to lead No. 4 UConn to an 81-57 rout of rival Notre Dame.
Walker hit 10 of her 18 shots for the Huskies (8-0) . UConn never trailed.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Christyn Williams had 12 points and Crystal Dangerfield, who returned to the Huskies starting lineup after missing two games with back spasms, chipped in with 10.
Anaya Peoples had 17 points and 11 boards to lead Notre Dame (5-6), which has a losing record for the first time in 16 years. Katlyn Gilbert scored 15 and Marta Sniezek added 14 for the Irish.
WEST VIRGINIA 71, NO. 10 MISSISSIPPI STATE 65
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State lost its first nonconference home game since 2014 when Kirsten Deans made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with just over a minute left to lift West Virginia.
The Bulldogs (8-2) hadn't lost at home to a team outside the SEC since falling to South Florida in the WNIT six seasons ago. But they made just 15 of 30 foul shots in this defeat.
Deans scored 17 points for the Mountaineers (6-1) in the Big 12/SEC Challenge matchup. She banked in her go-ahead shot from the wing.
Kysre Gondrezick added 16 points, Tynice Martin had 13 and Kari Niblack had 12 for West Virginia.
NO. 2 LOUISVILLE 85, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 57
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (AP) — Jazmine Jones scored 21 points off the bench, including nine during a 20-2 third-quarter run that helped Louisville beat Northern Kentucky.
The Cardinals (9-1) led the determined Norse (4-5) by just 37-35 at halftime. Jones' quick layup started the surge before she added a 3-pointer, two free throws and another layup for a 20-point advantage that included a pair of Elizabeth Balogun layups and a 3 by Dana Evans.
Louisville also turned its defense up a notch and eventually outscored NKU 31-9 while holding the Norse to 27% shooting in the quarter to bounce back from last week's 67-60 loss at Ohio State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
NO. 3 OREGON 95, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 56
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Ruthy Hebard had 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting and Oregon rediscovered its touch from the field in a win over South Dakota State.
After shooting under 50% in their previous two games at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Ducks (7-1) shot 64% from the field, including 58% on 3-pointers, to overwhelm the Jackrabbits (6-4).
Sabrina Ionescu was within range of the 20th triple-double of her career before being pulled midway through the fourth quarter with 12 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Satou Sabally made all four of her field goal attempts in adding 16 points.
NO. 8 FLORIDA STATE 81, CLEMSON 64
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Sammie Puisis had career highs with 17 points and five 3-pointers as Florida State took control right before halftime.
Kiah Gillespie also had 17 points for the Seminoles, who started 9-0 for the second time in the past three seasons.
Florida State was swept by Clemson last year and looked to be in for another tough game when the Tigers went up 33-30 late in the second quarter on Kaylee Sticker's 3-pointer. But Gillespie tied it and started a 7-2 run to the break for a 40-35 lead in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Kendall Spray had 19 points off six 3-pointers to lead Clemson (3-7). Amari Robinson added 14 points for the Tigers.
NO. 9 MARYLAND 105, LOYOLA (Md.) 45
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Shakira Austin had 25 points and 13 rebounds and No. 9 Maryland shook off a midweek loss.
Stephanie Jones and Taylor Mikesell both added 20 points for the Terrapins (8-2), who dropped a 66-59 decision at N.C. State on Thursday.
Stephanie Karcz led the Greyhounds (1-8) with 12 points.
Maryland improved to 26-3 against its in-state rival and has won 19 in a row against the Greyhounds, including a 17-0 mark under coach Brenda Frese.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Rhyne Howard scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including five 3-pointers, and Kentucky.
The Wildcats went 11 of 23 from 3-point range and shot 53% overall while forcing 18 Samford turnovers they turned into 21 points. Sabrina Haines added 12 points for Kentucky (9-0) and Jaida Roper had seven assists and six rebounds to go with three points.
Shauntai Battle led Samford (3-8) with nine points.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lashann Higgs and Sugg Sutton scored 19 points apiece and Texas handed Tennessee its first loss of the season.
Higgs' basket with 8:56 to play started an 8-0 run capped by a pair of Sutton baskets that had the Longhorns on top for good at 58-53 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Jada Underwood added 13 points for the Longhorns (5-4).
Rennia Davis had 15 points for the Lady Vols (7-1) and Jazmine Massengill added 10.
NO. 18 GONZAGA 76, WASHINGTON STATE 53
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — LeeAnne Wirth had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Gonzaga.
Gonzaga (8-1) led 41-23 at halftime. Borislava Hristova had 15 points for Washington State (5-4).
NO. 24 MICHIGAN 79, OAKLAND 64
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Naz Hillmon scored 21 points to lead Michigan.
Hillmon was 9-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds for the Wolverines (8-1), who won their fourth straight game. Amy Dilk, Kayla Robbins and Priscilla Smeenge had 10 points each.
Oakland (4-4) got within nine to start the fourth quarter but Smeenge had five points in a 10-0 run.