Spann hits 6 3s, No. 4. South Carolina beats Clemson 66-36
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) - Lindsey Spann made six of seven 3-pointers and scored 20 points in No. 4. South Carolina's 66-36 victory over Clemson on Thursday night.
Spann's outside accuracy freed up defending national champion South Carolina (3-0) in the paint. A'ja Wilson scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds, her third double-double in three games.
Clemson's 36 points were the lowest ever by a team in the rivalry's 63 games. The previous low was South Carolina's 40 points in 1990.
Clemson (2-1) gave its fans brief hope, taking a 4-2 lead just over two minutes in, leading to a timeout by Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley after her team had two of its first five shots blocked.
But the Tigers missed their next 11 shots and Spann hit three 3-pointers in that span as South Carolina took an 18-4 lead. Clemson would make just three of its next 25 shots and trailed the defending national champions 37-11 at half.
NO. 5 LOUISVILLE 74, NO. 24 MICHIGAN 49
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Myisha Hines-Allen scored 19 points, Asia Durr had 13 and Louisville used a big third quarter to rally past Michigan in preseason women's NIT semifinals.
Louisville will host No. 10 Oregon in the championship game Sunday.
Trailing 37-32 at halftime, the Cardinals began the third quarter with a 12-2 run for a 44-39 lead that became a rout early in the fourth thanks to intensity on both ends.
Louisville (4-0) held the Wolverines (2-1) to 19 percent shooting in the second half to earn its second win over a ranked Big Ten opponent in three games and a spot in Sunday's championship.
Katelynn Flaherty had 23 points for Michigan.
NO. 10 OREGON 83, NO. 19 TEXAS A&M 68
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - Ruthy Hebard scored a season-high 24 points on 10-for-10 shooting and Oregon beat Texas A&M in the preseason women's NIT semifinals.
Down six at the half, the Ducks (3-0) scored the first seven points of the third quarter to grab a 35-34 lead. After A&M (2-1) briefly led once more, Oregon began running away late in the period.
Chennedy Carter had a career-high 23 points for the Aggies.
NO. 7 MISSISSIPPI STATE 106, GEORGIA STATE 50
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) - Teaira McCowan and Victoria Vivians each scored 19 points and Mississippi State shot nearly 66 percent from the floor.
Blair Schaefer added 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range for the Bulldogs (2-0).
The Bulldogs were in control from start to finish, simply overpowering the Panthers (0-2) inside and outside. Sophomore center Zion Campbell had her first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a career-high 25 minutes. Shay Fluker who had 12 points for Georgia State.
NO. 11 DUKE 77, HIGH POINT 50
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Lexie Brown scored 24 points, Leaonna Odom had 16 points and nine rebounds and Duke beat in the Blue Devils' home opener.
Erin Mathias had 11 points and seven boards, and Rebecca Greenwell added 10 points and eight rebounds for Duke (2-0). Emma Bockrath had 21 points, 10 rebounds and five steals for High Point (1-2).
NO. 15 MARYLAND 92, NIAGARA 65
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Stephanie Jones had a career-high 21 points and added nine rebounds, and Ieshia Small had a career-best 18 points for Maryland.
Kaila Charles added 17 points for Maryland (2-1) and Blair Watson scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half. Victoria Rampado had 21 points for Niagara (0-3).
NO. 23 MISSOURI 82, WRIGHT STATE 80.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Sophie Cunningham scored 19 points, including a pair of free throws with 1.4 seconds left, in Missouri's victory over Wright State.
Jordan Frericks had 26 points to lead Missouri (2-1). Chelsea Welch scored a career-high 36 points for Wright State (2-1).
NO. 25 KENTUCKY 71, MONTANA 54
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - Taylor Murray had 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Kentucky.
Maci Morris added 16 points, and Jaida Roper had 14 for the Wildcats (3-0). McKenzie Johnston scored 12 points for Montana (0-2).