Top 25 women: South Carolina rolls on Dawn Staley Day in Philadelphia

A’ja Wilson wouldn’t let Dawn Staley’s homecoming be spoiled.

Wilson had 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks to help No. 4 South Carolina (11-1) rout Temple (8-4) 87-60 on Thursday night.

“Our team said in the pregame huddle, let’s do it for coach,” Wilson said. “It’s her homecoming. We wanted to put it on.”

Staley grew up in Philadelphia, a mile from Temple where she coached from 2000-08. On Wednesday, the city celebrated her, renaming a few blocks Dawn Staley Lane as a day in her honor was celebrated at the Hank Gathers Recreation Center.

She gave the center, where the Hall of Famer honed her game growing up, a replica NCAA championship trophy similar to the one her team won in April.

The game against Temple was Staley’s first against the school since she left for South Carolina following the 2008 season. Staley broke Nancy Wilson’s program record with her 232nd victory.

“It’s ironic how it all plays out,” Staley said. “It was just great to have Candice (Dupree’s) jersey retired and to come back and share in the national championship with the recreation center I grew up with. … Seemed like the perfect fit for today.”

(7) Tennessee 83, (18) Stanford 71: Jaime Nared scored a career-high 28 points, Evina Westbrook added 17 and the Lady Vols (12-0) defeated the Cardinal (6-6) at Stanford, California.

Mercedes Russell was held to three second-half points, but still managed to keep her streak of scoring in double figures in every game alive with 11. She also had 10 rebounds.

Brittany McPhee returned to the Stanford lineup for the first time in over a month to score a season-high 27 points, one off her career best. Stanford is 6-6.

(5) Mississippi State 76, Syracuse 65: Victoria Vivians had 26 points to reach a milestone and added nine rebounds in Mississippi State’s victory over Syracuse in the Duel in the Desert in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-1 senior guard became the third player in school history to reach 2,000 career points.

Teaira McCowan added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs (13-0) before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-7 junior is averaging 24.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in her last four games.

Gabrielle Cooper led Syracuse (11-1) with 22 points and nine rebounds. Tiana Mangakahia added 20 points, and Miranda Drummond had 14.

(9) West Virginia 66, Morehead State 56: Naomi Davenport scored 19 points and Teanna Muldrow had 18 points and 12 rebounds to help the Mountaineers (12-0) defeat the Eagles (9-4) at Morgantown, West Virginia.

Katrina Pardee added 14 points, and Chania Ray had 11 for the Mountaineers.

Darianne Seward led the Eagles with 23 points.

(10) Oregon 84, (19) Texas A&M 62: Maite Cazorla scored 26 points, Sabrina Ionescu had 25 and the Ducks defeated the Aggies in the Duel in the Desert.

Ruthy Hebard had 10 points and eight rebounds for Oregon. The Ducks (10-2) also beat the Aggies (10-3) last month in College Station in the Preseason Women’s NIT semifinals.

Danni Williams led the Aggies with 22 points.

(13) Florida State 92, Creighton 82: Chatrice White had 19 points and 11 rebounds in her home-state return to help the Seminoles defeat the Bluejats in Omaha, Nebraska.

White starred at Shelby-Rising City and was the first Nebraska high school female to be named a McDonald’s All-American. The Seminoles (11-1) rebounded from an 87-72 loss to No. 8 Texas on Sunday. Creighton (6-4) had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Creighton’s Audrey Faber scored 30 points and made seven 3-pointers.

Michigan State 83, (22) South Florida 73: Shay Colley scored a career-high 27 points and the Spartans upset the Bulls at the New Orleans Shootout.

Colley was 9 of 16 from the field and made 9 of 10 free throws in leading the Spartans (9-3) to their fourth straight victory. Jenna Allen added 17 points.

Laura Ferreira and Maria Jespersen scored 18 points for USF (10-3).

(23) Michigan 105, Delaware State 36: Katelynn Flaherty hit five 3-pointers and scored 22 points, Hallie Thome had 18 points and the Wolverines overwhelmed the Hornets in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Wolverines (11-2) have won six straight. They held the Hornets (1-9) to 22-percent shooting.

(24) California 62, Kentucky 52: Asha Thomas scored 17 points to help the Golden Bears defeat the Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky.

Mikayla Cowling added 15 points for the Golden Bears (9-2).

Maci Morris led Kentucky (8-5) with 21 points.

(25) Iowa 79, Drake 66: Megan Gustafson had 27 points and 12 rebounds for Iowa as the Hawkeyes defeated the Bulldogs in Iowa City, Iowa.

Makenzie Meyer matched her career high with 21 points and had seven assists for the Hawkeyes (12-1).

Becca Hittner scored a career-high 27 points for the Bulldogs (5-7).