College basketball

Women: Storm can't stop Irish dominance

By wire services
Published January 27, 2005

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - St. John's played Notre Dame tougher than ever. It still wasn't enough.

Crystal Erwin had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Megan Duffy added 14 points and 10 assists, leading the sixth-ranked Irish to a 72-65 victory over St. John's on Wednesday night. The Irish improved to 15-0 all time against St. John's, but the margin was the closest ever. Twice, the Red Storm had lost by 13.

"We've made such progress, but we really want to win a game like this," St. John's coach Kim Barnes Arico said. "When you lose a game like this it's tough to say, "You gave a great effort,' because everyone is disappointed."

NO. 7 BAYLOR 74, TEXAS A&M 52: Sophia Young scored 20 and Steffanie Blackmon 15, and the host Bears outscored the Aggies 18-4 to open the second half.

NO. 8 RUTGERS 71, NO. 14 BC 60: Cappie Pondexter scored 22 of her season-high 27 in the second half to lift the visiting Scarlet Knights to their fourth win against a ranked team this season.

NO. 9 UCONN 89, PITT 53: Jessica Moore scored 19 and led a 15-0 run late in the first half that broke open a tight game and led the visiting Huskies to their fifth straight win.

NO. 11 MICH. ST. 71, PURDUE 58: Kelli Roehrig nearly outscored the Boilermakers starters in the first half for the host Spartans. Roehrig had 12 points in the half, two fewer than Purdue's starters.

NO. 13 TEXAS TECH 75, MISSOURI 45: Cisti Greenwalt had 20 points and 14 rebounds for her eighth double double of the season to lead the host Red Raiders.

NO. 15 TEXAS 83, OKLAHOMA 71 (OT): Tiffany Jackson had 30 points and 16 rebounds, Nina Norman scored 22 and the visiting Longhorns rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit.

FLA. SOUTHERN 88, SAINT LEO 60: Lucresia West scored 28, including her team's first 15, as the visiting Moccasins stayed in first in the Sunshine State Conference.

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 00:41:13]