COLOMBIA, SC – Destanni Henderson had seven of his 11 points in a decisive series in the third quarter, while No. 1 South Carolina withdrew from Missouri 77-62 on Thursday night for its 30th consecutive victory against the competition Southeast Conference.
It was a satisfactory victory for South Carolina (16-2, 11-0 SEC), who was defeated in 2nd place at UConn on Monday night, just hours after returning to 1st place.
But Missouri (7-8, 3-7) made it difficult, losing just 45-44 in the middle of the third quarter before Henderson took over. She hit a jumper and then another steering basket where it was soiled. After losing the free throw, South Carolina recovered and Henderson opened to a 3-point lead and 52-44 with 2:30 remaining in the period.
Missouri did not respond and lost for the fifth time in the last seven games and for the fourth consecutive time to South Carolina.
No. 3 LOUISVILLE 85, GEORGIA TECH 70
Dana Evans scored 25 points in her home final, Kianna Smith scored 13 of her 21 points in the third quarter and Louisville beat Georgia Tech.
The Cardinals (19-1, 12-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third game in a row and improved to 8-0 against the Yellow Jackets, with the senior All-American guard setting the tone. Evans scored 13 points at the break for his 36th consecutive double-digit goal, school record, which broke Angel McCoughtry’s previous mark in the 2007-08 and 08-09 seasons.
Kierra Fletcher had 19 points, Loyal McQueen 14 and Nerea Hermosa 13 for the Yellow Jackets (11-5, 9-4).
No. 4 NC STATE 86, CLEMSON 65
RALEIGH, NC – Kayla Jones scored 21 points and the state of North Carolina regrouped from a defeat by beating Clemson.
Jakia Brown-Turner added 13 points to Wolfpack, who had lost to North Carolina’s unclassified rival last weekend. Against Clemson, NC State scored the first 12 points of the game on the way to a 17-2 lead in the first 5 and a half minutes.
NC State (13-2, 8-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) ended the game by throwing almost 52% while hitting 10 out of 21 points out of 3, guaranteeing the 12th consecutive victory in the series with this streak that goes back more than a decade.
Delicia Washington had 24 points and eight rebounds for Clemson (10-8, 5-8).
No. 12 MICHIGAN 62, PURDUE 49
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Naz Hillmon scored 21 points, Leigha Brown added 20 and Michigan returned from a three-week COVID layoff with a win over Purdue.
The Wolverines haven’t played since January 21, a memorable game in which Hillmon set the school’s record on points – male or female – with 50 in a 81-77 loss to the 11th Ohio State. There was a break from the entire department in athletic activity and six games were postponed.
The Wolverines (11-1, 6-1 Big Ten Conference) may have been a little rusty in attack, but certainly not in defense. M
Kayana Traylor had 15 points for the Boilermakers (6-10, 3-6), who lost four in a row
No. 20 KENTUCKY 71, No. 16 TENNESSEE 56
Chasity Patterson scored 21 points and Kentucky scored 10 out of 20 in the 3-point streak to get away and beat Tennessee.
Lady Vols, who won the first game 70-53 on January 24, was without Rennia Davis, her leading rebound (8.9) and second best scorer (14.5) because of the COVID-19 protocol. Tennessee was off duty last week because of a coronavirus break.
The Wildcats (14-5, 7-4 Southeastern Conference) took control in the fourth period, going 5 out of 5 in the 3 point range and beating Tennessee 25-9. Patterson and Jazmine Massengill, who scored 11 points, hit two three three in the fourth period.
Rae Burrell scored 22 points for Lady Vols (12-4, 5-2) and Jordan Horston added 11.
No. 17 GONZAGA 79, SAN FRANCISCO 66
SPOKANE, Wash. – Jill Townsend scored 19 points and Gonzaga won his 16th round in a row by ending San Francisco’s six-game winning streak.
The Bulldogs, who had a nine-game break, were sloppy with 24 fouls and 18 turns, but made up for 11 of 21 in the 3-point range, shooting 50% in total and having a 44-26 rebound advantage.
Gonzaga also played in stellar defense over San Francisco’s first-year star Ioanna Krimili, who came into play scoring at least 23 points in the last five games. The top scorer of the West Coast Conference with 19.1 points per game, was kept at seven, three from the free-throw line.
Jenn Wirth scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Gonzaga (17-2, 12-0 WCC) and Kayleigh Truong added 11 points and five assists.
Lucie Hoskova led Dons (11-9, 7-7) with 19 points.
RUTGERS 70, No. 21 NORTHWEST 54
EVANSTON, Illinois. – Tyia Singleton scored 17 points, the best of his career, Tekia Mack had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Rutgers won his second in a row after an eight-game break, beating Northwestern.
Neither team had an advantage of more than seven points until Rutgers’ 12-1 run in the last 3:21. Mack and Diamond Johnson made a basket during the race and the rest of the score came from the free-throw line. The Scarlet Knights hit 9 out of 12 free throws in the quarter, compared to Northwestern’s 11 launches overall.
Arella Guirantes scored 15 points with five assists and Johnson had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists for Rutgers (7-3, 3-3 Big Ten).
Jordan Hamilton scored 13 points, and Sydney Wood and Paige Mott scored 12 for Northwestern each (11-5, 9-5),
No. 24 GEORGIA 74, AUBURN 54
ATHENS, Georgia – Maya Caldwell made her first double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to help Georgia beat Auburn.
Caldwell had six assists and made three points out of 3 for the Bulldogs (15-4, 7-4 MON).
Unique Thompson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers (5-14, 0-11), his 13th double-double of the season and 55th of his career. Scott-Grayson honesty scored 12 points.