Irish upset Alabama
Russell Carter scored a career-high 27 points, including a pair of key baskets that thwarted an Alabama threat and sparked a 14-0 run, in Notre Dame’s 99-85 victory over the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide (7-1) Thursday night in South Bend, Ind.
Alabama used a 7-0 run to cut Notre Dame’s (7-1) lead to 85-82 as the Irish appeared to be losing their composure with turnovers on three straight possessions. But Carter hit a 3-pointer and an 18-footer to extend the lead to 88-82 and Luke Harangody converted on a three-point play and it was the Crimson Tide players who lost their composure, turning the ball over on three straight turnovers.
It was Notre Dame’s second straight win over a ranked team. They beat No. 23 Maryland 81-74 Sunday. The win ended a seven-game losing streak to ranked opponents.
Women
Middle Tenn. State 70, (8) Georgia 62: At Athens, Ga., Chrissy Givens scored 25 points and Amber Holt had 21 to lead the Blue Raiders past the Lady Bulldogs.
The Blue Raiders (6-3) forced Georgia (7-1) into 22 turnovers.
(3) Oklahoma 78, South Carolina 51: At Columbia, S.C., Courtney Paris had 15 points and 16 rebounds – her 35th straight game with a double-double – and the Sooners defeated the Gamecocks (5-4) to open 7-0 for the third time in six seasons.
(4) Duke 69, (11) Vanderbilt 48: At Durham, N.C., Alison Bales scored 16 points to lead four Blue Devils in double figures and Duke rolled to a victory over the previously undefeated Commodores.
With 4:18 left, an intentional foul on Caroline Williams and technical called on Vanderbilt’s (8-1) bench sparked eight straight points for the Blue Devils (8-0) that sealed the win.
(6) Tennessee 85, (21) George Washington 62: At Knoxville, Tenn., Sidney Spencer scored 21 points, including two 3-pointers during a key second-half run, to help the Lady Volunteers (8-1) top the Colonials (7-2).
The Colonials fell to 0-8 against the Lady Vols, including last year’s loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
(7) Connecticut 84, Georgetown 26: At Washington, Charde Houston and Tina Charles scored 14 points apiece in leading the unbeaten Huskies (6-0) to a thumping of the Hoyas (7-3) in the Big East opener for both teams.
(16) California 77, Fresno State 62: At Berkeley, Calif., Ashley Walker had 17 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots as the Bears (7-1) rolled over the Bulldogs (4-3).
(18) DePaul 87, (19) Rutgers 73: At Chicago, Allie Quigley had a career-high 37 points in leading the Blue Demons (6-1) past the Scarlet Knights (2-4) in a Big East opener.