COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kia Nurse scored 23 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 20 as No. 1 UConn powered past defending national champion South Carolina 83-58 on Thursday night.
The Huskies opened things up early to lead 53-24 at the half on their way to a 21-0 start for the fourth time in five seasons. They extended their NCAA mark with their 48th straight road win and, if anyone needed more evidence, marked themselves the clear favorite for another NCAA title.
No. 7 South Carolina (18-4) fell to 0-6 against UConn.
(4) LOUISVILLE 77, VIRGINIA 41: Asia Durr scored 21 points and the visiting Cardinals (23-1, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) broke open a tight game with 16 consecutive points in the third quarter against the Cavaliers (15-8, 8-2).
(5) NOTRE DAME 94, NORTH CAROLINA 62: Marina Mabrey scored a season-high 25 points and fellow guard Arike Ogunbowale added 24 as the Irish (21-2, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat the visiting Tar Heels (14-8, 4-5 ACC) for their sixth straight victory.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 65, (10) FLORIDA STATE 56: Akela Maize scored eight of her 18 points in the final five minutes as the Wolfpack (18-5, 7-3 ACC) upset the visiting Seminoles (18-4, 6-3).
(19) DUKE 77, GEORGIA TECH 59: Lexie Brown scored 24 points as the Blue Devils (18-5, 7-3 ACC) tied the school record with their 30th straight regular-season home win, topping the Yellowjackets (13-10, 2-8).
NHTI 73, SOUTHERN MAINE CC 47: Melissa Martel scored 17 points with nine rebounds and five steals, Riselly Deoleo added 15 points and the Lynx (18-5, 10-4 YSCC) downed the Seawolves (16-7, 11-3) in Concord, New Hampshire.
Amanda Brett scored 22 points for the Seawolves.
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND 85, NICHOLS 57: Olivia Shaw scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Nor’easters (15-5, 11-2 CCC) cruised past the Bison (3-17, 1-12) at Biddeford.
Jocelyn Chaput and Ashley Coneys each had 15 points for the Nor’easters.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
JOHNSON & WALES (R.I.) 64, ST. JOSEPH’S 63: Randall Ferdinand scored the go-ahead layup with seven seconds left as the Wildcats (12-8, 9-2 GNAC) rallied past the Monks (12-8, 7-4) in Providence, Rhode Island.
Ian Mileikis had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds for the Monks but missed the front end of a one-and-one.
Aaron Hall scored 12 points to lead the Monks.
NHTI 98, SOUTHERN MAINE CC 92: Aubrey Stephens scored 23 points and J’Quavious Thurmond finished with 19 to lead the Lynx (17-4, 12-1 YSCC) past the Seawolves (15-7, 10-3) at Concord, New Hampshire.
Dylan Silvestri was the game’s leading scorer with 26 points and Gregory Trinidad added 20 for SMCC.
(1) VILLANOVA 98, CREIGHTON 78: Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and Jalen Brunson had 19 to lead the host Wildcats (21-1, 8-1 Big East) over the Bluejays (17-6, 7-4) for their eighth straight win.
TEMPLE 81, (16) WICHITA STATE 79: Obi Enechionyia hit two free throws with 18.1 seconds left in overtime and the Owls (12-10, 4-6 American Athletic Conference) topped the visiting Shockers (17-5, 7-3).
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