Seniors lead UConn past Hokies

ASSOCIATED PRESS
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Connecticut's seniors came up big to get the Huskies back to the NCAA regional semifinals in a familiar place: back in their home state.
Ann Strother had 22 points and six 3-pointers, and Barbara Turner dominated inside with 18 points and 16 rebounds as the second-seeded Huskies routed No. 7 seeded Virginia Tech 79-56 Tuesday night in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The win sends the Huskies (31-4) into the regional semifinals for a 13th straight season. UConn stands a good shot at getting to a ninth Final Four because the Huskies will play their next game, against Georgia, in Bridgeport, Conn., about a 90-minute drive from the UConn campus in Storrs.
UConn led by double digits for most of the game thanks to a pivotal 20-2 run in the first half that included three 3-pointers, and seven turnovers by Virginia Tech (21-10). Renee Montgomery's layup gave UConn a 29-10 lead with 8:19 to go in the first half.
The Hokies mounted a late first-half rally after Dawn Chriss hit a couple buckets to narrow the deficit to 41-32 at halftime.
UConn came out strong to open the second half. Strother spotted up for a 3, then blocked a layup attempt by the Hokies' Carrie Mason from behind that led to a transition bucket for Mel Thomas.
Strother then hit another 3 over Chriss to give the Huskies a 53-40 lead.
Chriss finished with 16 points before fouling out, while Kerri Gardin had 16 points and eight rebounds.
The game was so well in hand that Auriemma pulled Strother from the game with just over five minutes remaining and his team up by 30. Turner left the game three minutes later.
Duke 85, Southern California 51
NORFOLK, Va. -- Alison Bales scored a career-high 22 points and blocked six shots and the top-seeded Blue Devils took command early against Southern California.
Monique Currie added 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Duke, and fellow senior Mistie Williams had nine points and eight rebounds.
Eshaya Murphy led Southern Cal (19-12) with 16 points and Chloe Kerr had 13. The Women of Troy shot just 30 percent and missed 17 of their 20 3-point attempts.
The Blue Devils (28-3) will take on Michigan State in the Bridgeport Regional semifinals Sunday.