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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 1, 2009

No. 1 UConn clinches Big East title

Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. — Maya Moore scored 18 points and Tina Charles added 16 to help top-ranked Connecticut rout Seton Hall, 81-50, yesterday to clinch the Big East Conference's regular-season title.

Moore added seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots. She even sang the national anthem, in a harmonizing duet with junior forward Kaili McLaren.

"She's become a well-rounded person," joked UConn coach Geno Auriemma.

UConn (29-0, 15-0) has now won at least a share of 17 regular-season conference crowns, and three in a row.

"It means a lot," said Charles. "It shows our hard work and determination. It is the same focus that we have had all season."

Kandice Green led Seton Hall (15-13, 3-12) with 10 points. The Pirates have lost six straight games to fall into last place in the conference.

No. 2 Oklahoma 73, Oklahoma State 63: Courtney Paris had 25 points and 16 rebounds for her 122nd career double-double as the host Sooners (25-3, 13-1) clinched a share of the Big 12 Conference title with a victory over the Cowgirls (15-12, 4-10).

No. 6 Baylor could still earn a share of the conference crown, although Oklahoma will be the top seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City because the Sooners swept the Bears during the regular season.

No. 6 Baylor 66, No. 16 Texas 57: Jhasmin Player had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the visiting Bears (23-4, 11-3 Big 12) took a 38-25 halftime lead and never let it slip below three en route to beating the Longhorns (20-8, 8-6) to snap a three-game losing streak.

No. 8 Louisville 75, No. 15 Pittsburgh 51: Candyce Bingham poured in 26 points as the host Cardinals (26-3, 13-2 Big East Conference) beat the Panthers (21-6, 11-4) to clinch the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament next week.

No. 13 Xavier 75, Fordham 47: Ta'Shia Phillips scored 22 points and pulled down 18 rebounds to lead the host Musketeers (25-5, 13-1) past the Rams (8-21, 1-13) to clinch their second Atlantic 10 regular-season championship.

No. 21 South Dakota State 97, Centenary 52: Jennifer Warkenthien scored 18 points and the visiting Jackrabbits (27-2, 16-1) led 43-24 at the half in cruising past the Lady Cyclones (4-24, 2-15) to clinch at least a share of its second straight Summit League championship.

No. 23 Notre Dame 65, Providence 56: Lindsay Schrader scored 18 points and Ashley Barlow hit two consecutive 3-pointers to break a 41-all tie in the second half as the visiting Irish (20-7, 9-6 Big East) rallied past the Friars (10-18, 4-10).

No. 24 Arizona State 76, Washington State 35: Dymond Simon scored 17 points and the host Sun Devils (22-6, 14-2 Pac-10) forced 14 turnovers en route to a 37-17 halftime lead in beating the Cougars (11-17, 4-13) for their 14th straight win.

No. 25 Iowa State 59, Texas Tech 52: Amanda Nisleit scored 19 points, Heather Ezell added 16, and the visiting Cyclones (21-7, 9-5 Big 12) used a 10-2 spurt to go up 32-25 with 13:55 left and the Lady Raiders (15-13, 5-9) got no closer thereafter.

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