It’s Tennessee Over Connecticut Again

Free throws and Sidney Spencer helped keep top-ranked Tennessee undefeated with the Lady Vols’ second consecutive victory over Connecticut.

Spencer scored a career-high 21 points, and the Lady Vols (15-0) went 32 of 41 from the free-throw line Saturday at Knoxville, Tenn., to beat the No. 7 Huskies, 89-80, in another classic game in this storied rivalry.

And there was a big crowd to watch it. Attendance was announced as 24,653, the largest in Thompson-Boling Arena history.

“It was electrifying,” Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt said. “This is a rivalry that is special in women’s basketball on the national scene.”

Connecticut (12-2) lost for the first time in Knoxville since 2001 and had not dropped consecutive games to Tennessee since 1998 and 1999. The Lady Vols ended their six-game losing streak to the Huskies last season.

No. 3 Louisiana State 66, No. 15 Minnesota 45 -- Scholanda Hoston helped key a 15-0 run in the second half at Baton Rouge, La., and the Tigers (13-0) came from behind to beat the Golden Gophers (9-3).

No. 4 Baylor 61, No. 23 Texas 48 -- Sophia Young scored 25 points, most of her baskets coming when the Bears (11-1, 1-1 Big 12 Conference) needed a spark, and they extended their home-court winning streak to 23 games. The Longhorns (6-6, 0-2) lost their third consecutive game -- their first three-game losing streak in four years.

No. 11 Michigan State 73, No. 8 Rutgers 71 -- Essence Carson of the Scarlet Knights (10-2) missed a shot from near the free-throw line as time expired at East Lansing, Mich., and the Spartans (12-3) extended their school-record winning streak at home to 22 games. The Spartans beat a top-10 team for the first time this season after losing their first three opportunities.

Seton Hall 74, No. 12 Notre Dame 61 -- The Pirates (5-8, 1-1 Big East) used a 17-6 run in the second half at South Bend, Ind., to hand the Irish (9-4, 0-2) their third consecutive loss. It’s their longest losing streak in eight years. The victory was the first for Seton Hall against a ranked team since beating No. 23 Notre Dame, 51-48, in South Orange, N.J., on Feb. 8, 2004.

No. 13 DePaul 67, Marquette 52 -- The Blue Demons (15-1, 2-1 Big East) never trailed after the Golden Eagles (10-3, 0-2) scored the opening basket at Milwaukee, and led by as many as 21 points. DePaul matched its best 16-game start in school history. The 2003-04 team started 18-1.

No. 16 Stanford 76, Oregon 64 -- Candice Wiggins scored a career-high 37 points to rally the Cardinal (10-4, 5-1 Pacific 10) past the Ducks (10-4, 1-3) at Eugene, Ore. She scored nine points during an 11-4 run late in the second half, pulling the Cardinal out of a 56-50 deficit.

No. 18 Oklahoma 84, Colorado 61 -- Courtney Paris posted her NCAA-leading 12th double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds to help the Sooners (12-3, 2-0 Big 12) beat the Buffaloes (5-9, 0-2) at Norman, Okla.

No. 21 New Mexico 73, Colorado State 57 -- The Lobos (12-3, 2-0 Mountain West Conference) led by as many as 19 points in the second half at Fort Collins, Colo. The Rams (7-6, 1-1), who led the conference with 40% three-point shooting, made only two of 13.

Brigham Young 61, No. 22 Utah 60 -- Mallary Gillespie’s put-back at the buzzer lifted the Cougars (12-1, 2-0 Mountain West) over the Utes (9-4, 0-2) at Salt Lake City. Ambrosia Anderson missed a 20-footer with two seconds left, Gillespie grabbed the rebound and scored as time expired.