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Virginia Commonwealth 71, George Mason 50

RICHMOND, Va. — Eric Maynor had 25 points and eight assists and is heading back to the NCAA tournament after leading Virginia Commonwealth University in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game. Larry Sanders added 18 points, and set championship game records with 20 rebounds and seven blocks for the Rams (24-9), who stunned Duke in the first round two years ago and look capable of giving another team trouble by letting their senior guard and big forward lead the way. Dre Smith led George Mason with 23 points, but most came too late.

Chattanooga 80, College of Charleston 69

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Keyron Sheard scored 18 points as Chattanooga won the Southern Conference tournament. The Mocs (18-16) earned their 10th NCAA tournament appearance with the automatic bid. They last appeared in the tournament in 2005, losing in the opening round to Wake Forest. Tony White Jr. led the Cougars with 31 points.

No. 12 Gonzaga 83, Saint Mary’s 58

LAS VEGAS — Josh Heytvelt scored 17 points, Micah Downs added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Gonzaga romped into its 11th consecutive NCAA tournament with a victory over Saint Mary’s and struggling star Patty Mills in the West Coast Conference final. Matt Bouldin scored 14 points for the relentless Zags (26-5), who followed up their perfect regular-season conference slate with two blowout wins in the tournament, giving them 19 victories in their last 20 games. With Mills going 2-for-16 in his second game back from a broken hand, Saint Mary’s (25-6) never threatened the Zags in a loss that endangers the Gaels’ hopes for the first back-to-back NCAA tournament bids in school history.

Siena 77, Niagara 70

ALBANY, N.Y. — Kenny Hasbrouck shook off a nagging calf injury and a terrible first half to score 19 points in leading Siena to defend its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament title. Ryan Rossiter added 16 points and 14 rebounds as the Saints (26-7) clinched their program’s fifth NCAA tournament berth. Siena also completed its season with a 17-0 record on its home court, and extended its win streak to 21 dating to last season. Tyrone Lewis scored 22 for the Purple Eagles (26-8), who will be left to settle for an NIT berth. Niagara lost for only the second time in 14 games and squandered an opportunity to match a school single-season record for wins.

WOMEN

No. 5 Louisville 69, No. 14 Pittsburgh 63

HARTFORD, Conn. — Angel McCoughtry scored 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help Louisville hold off Pittsburgh in the semifinals of the Big East tournament. Louisville (29-3) will face Connecticut in the tournament championship for the second consecutive season. It’s only the third meeting between the top two seeds in the Big East tournament in the last 11 years. Trailing 63-62 with 1:40 left McCoughtry’s three-point play gave Louisville a two-point edge with 1:12 left. After a turnover by Xenia Stewart, McCoughtry hit a pull-up jumper from the wing with 23.5 seconds remaining to make it 67-63. Shavonte Zellous scored 24 points to lead Pittsburgh (23-7).

Connecticut 72, Villanova 42

HARTFORD, Conn. — Big East Player of the Year Maya Moore scored 17 points to lead top-ranked Connecticut. Tina Charles added 16 points and Renee Montgomery had 12, helping Geno Auriemma to an easy win over Harry Perretta in a battle of the conferences co-coaches of the year. Tia Grant led Villanova (19-13) with 13. Laura Kurz, who had 21 points in the Wildcats’ quarterfinal win over Notre Dame, was held scoreless, missing all seven of her shots. UConn, which won its 17th regular-season Big East title this year, will be playing in its 19th conference championship game in the past 21 years, and looking for its 15th tournament championship.

No. 17 South Dakota State 68, IUPUI 53

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Jill Young scored 17 points and Jennifer Warkenthien added 16 to lead South Dakota State into the Summit League tournament championship. Warkenthien, the conference player of the year, added 12 rebounds for the Jackrabbits (30-2). Young made four 3-point shots, breaking open a close game with her first-half scoring to help SDSU to a 38-26 lead at intermission. IUPUI (16-15) was led by Jernisha Cann’s 19 points, who added 10 rebounds.

Associated Press