COLLEGE HOOPS \ Top 25 women’s games

January 24, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

No. 22 Florida State 80, No. 16 Virginia 75

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Courtney Ward scored 18 points and Tanae Davis-Cain had 16 as Florida State held off a second-half rally by No. 16 Virginia and won its eighth straight game. Florida State (17-4, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), off to its best start in ACC history, led by 13 and held on even when the Cavaliers kept pulling to within a point. Virginia (15-4, 2-2) got within one twice in the final minute, first on a free throw by Chelsea Shine and later on a putback with 11.3 seconds left. But Jacinta Monroe answered the first time by making both ends of a one-and-one with 20.5 seconds left, and Mara Freshour hit a pair of free throws with 9.9 seconds to play, giving the Seminoles a 78-75 lead that held up. Monica Wright led Virginia with 24 points and Lyndra Littles added 21.

Fairfield 73, No. 20 Marist 65, OT

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Baendu Lowenthal scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Fairfield shock No. 20 Marist in overtime and end the Red Foxes’ 35-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference winning streak. The Red Foxes (17-2, 8-1), who had won 14 straight games overall, last lost in the conference to Loyola, Md. on Feb. 16, 2007. Marist’s only other defeat this season came against Oklahoma on Nov. 26. Stephanie Geehan added 15 points, including going 6-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch. Lauren Groom scored 14 points for Fairfield (11-8, 6-2), and hit a 3-pointer to put the game away in the extra period. Rachele Fitz led Marist with 23 points and moved within 17 of breaking the school’s all-time scoring record. The junior also had nine rebounds. Julianne Viani had 17 points for the Red Foxes.

Associated Press