Ralph’s Big Day Gives UConn Victory

Shea Ralph scored a career-high 30 points as No. 1 Connecticut defeated Washington, 101-81, at Storrs, Conn. Ralph came off the bench to provide a spark to Connecticut, which struggled early. She scored 13 first-half points, including the final eight, to give Washington (2-2) a 47-41 lead at the break. Tamika Williams added 18 points for Connecticut (4-0).

No. 3 Tennessee 86, Texas 65--Chamique Holdsclaw scored 18 points and Tamika Catchings added 17 to lead the Lady Vols past the Longhorns (1-3) at Austin, Texas. The three-time defending national champion Lady Vols (3-1) have won 11 in a row over Texas.

No. 7 Notre Dame 74, San Francisco 43--Freshman Sherisha Hills scored 16 points as the Irish defeated the Lady Dons at San Francisco and matched their best start, 5-0, in school history. Notre Dame also won its first five games in the 1977-78 season.

No. 8 Alabama 87, DePaul 67--Dominique Canty scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Crimson Tide in in the title game of the Moran Classic at Chicago. The Crimson Tide (5-0) used a full-court press to cause 11 steals and 21 turnovers while dominating the boards 50-30.

No. 10 North Carolina St. 93, Idaho St. 75--Summer Erb matched her career high with 33 points as the Wolfpack (3-2) won the third-place game of the San Diego State Thanksgiving Classic. Erb scored 16 of North Carolina State’s first 22 points.

No. 11 Rutgers 70, Buffalo 47--Tomora Young hit two three-opint shots to ignite an early 18-point run as the Scarlet Knights (5-1) welcomed back coach C. Vivian Stringer with a victory over Buffalo (4-1) in the first round of the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic at Piscataway, N.J. Stringer missed the Scarlet Knights’ game against Texas on Tuesday to be with her son David, a North Carolina State football player who faces charges for his part in a confrontation that led to a fatal shooting near the campus.

Marquette 77, No. 13 Florida 61--Kiesha Oliver scored 23 points as the Golden Eagles defeated the Gators in the opener of the Duke Women’s Basketball Classic at Durham, N.C. Abbie Willenborg added 17 points and Lisa Oldenburg scored 16 for the Golden Eagles (4-1).

No. 14 Arkansas 84, Oral Roberts 56--Wendi Willits scored 27 points and made eight three-point shots to lead the Lady Razorbacks to victory at Fayetteville, Ark. Willits was eight of 11 from long range for the Lady Razorbacks (6-1).

No. 17 Virginia 70, California 55--Demya Walker had 22 points, 11 rebounds and blocked five shots as the Cavaliers (3-1) held the Golden Bears (1-1) to 24 percent shooting in the second half at Charlottesvilee, Va. Paige Bowie led the Golden Bears (1-1) with 13 points, and Courtney Johnson added 11.

No. 19 Kansas 66, Denver 50--Lynn Pride had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks, who won the Loyola-Marymount Thanksgiving Classic. Kansas (4-2) led 23-27 at the half but then took over the game in the first 10 minutes of the second half with a 21-8 run.

No. 20 Duke 75, Villanova 47--Michele VanGorp scored 23 points Duke (3-3) dfeeated Villanova (2-2) in the first round of the Duke Women’s Basketball Classic at Durham, N.C. Hilary Howard added 11 points and Peppi Browne had 12 for the Blue Devils.

No. 22 George Washington 74, Seton Hall 51--Noelia Gomez scored 26 points as the Colonials defeated host Seton Hall in the championship game of the Pals-Mayfair Farms Invitational at South Orange, N.J. Susan Murray led Seton Hall (2-3) with 15 points.

No. 24 Nebraska 85, St. John’s 66--Brooke Schwartz scored 18 points and two teammates recorded double-doubles as the Cornhuskers won in the consolation round of the Rainbow Wahine Classic at Honolulu. Nicole Kubik collected 11 assists and 12 points for the Cornhuskers (4-1).