Sports

College basketball

Women: Bulls pick up a crucial road win

Associated Press
Published February 12, 2005

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NEW ORLEANS - Jessica Dickson scored 20 and South Florida won its first Conference USA road game this season, keeping alive hopes for its first NCAA Tournament berth with a 65-61 win over Tulane on Friday night.

Anedra Gilmore added nine points and seven assists for the Bulls (16-9, 6-5), who tied their school record for wins by snapping a six-game road losing streak, the past four in C-USA. Lakethia Hampton had her third double double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Green Wave.

The Bulls used an early 10-0 run to help build a 26-9 first-half lead, but Tulane (10-13, 2-8) whittled that to six with 2:24 left when D'Aundra Henry hit a 10-foot jumper. USF led 35-27 at the half.

The Green Wave opened the second half with an 8-0 run to tie it with 17:30 left. After the Bulls went up by four, Alendra Brown hit a rebound basket, then tied it after receiving an over-the-back pass from senior guard Kinya Lennix.

Henry put Tulane up 44-42 by picking up a steal and sprinting down the floor for a layup with 12:40 left. After the teams exchanged baskets, USF jumped ahead 56-50 behind seven points from Dickson.

Tulane got within 57-56 on Henry's jumper with 3:34 left, but the Bulls hit 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch to seal it.

Top 25

NO. 8 UNC 93, VA. TECH 67: La'Tangela Atkinson almost is as adept at avoiding attention as she is at doing the things on the court that demand it.

Told she was three assists short of the first triple double in Tar Heels history, she shrugged. Asked if she expected to be the type of player to fill up the stat sheet like that, she responded, "Yes, sir."

That's fine. Her skills on the court say plenty.

Atkinson had 12 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven assists, and Ivory Latta broke out of a shooting slump to score 19 for host North Carolina.

"I think she was trying to be like LeBron James," Latta said of her teammate.

Coach Sylvia Hatchell is used to seeing that type of effort from Atkinson, an athletic, 6-foot-1 wing player equally comfortable in the paint or on the perimeter.

"Tangie is just a silent player out there," Hatchell said. "When you look at the stats, you think, "Wow.' You don't really notice it and she doesn't get credit for it, but she does so much for us."

NO. 15 DePAUL 78, HOUSTON 66: Khara Smith had 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead the host Blue Demons. Teammate Allie Quigley had 16 points and Erin Carney had 13 points and nine rebounds.

B-CC 78, SAVANNAH ST. 69: Antonio Webb scored 24 to help the host Wildcats bring the Tigers within one loss of becoming the second winless Division I team in the past 50 years.

Savannah State (0-27), an independent, plays its finale at home against Florida A&M on Monday. The last winless Division I team was Prairie View A&M, which went 0-28 in 1991-92.

COACH REPRIMANDED: SEC commissioner Mike Slive issued a public reprimand to Georgia coach Dennis Felton for Felton's public criticism of South Carolina forward Carlos Powell.

Powell was struck in the left eye late twice during South Carolina's 60-53 victory at Georgia on Feb. 5. Both times he wound up on the floor, apparently in pain.

On his radio call-in show Sunday, Felton called Powell "the biggest faker and flopper. He's fraudulent."

SHOT DISPUTED: Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst said he hopes to have courtside video monitors at all league games in the aftermath of a winning shot by Miami of Ohio that came after the final buzzer to beat Ball State on Wednesday.

PIERCE ARREST: The attorney for Pierre Pierce filed a motion in Des Moines, Iowa, seeking the dismissal of a burglary charge against the former Hawkeye. Pierce was arraigned this week on charges of burglary, domestic abuse assault, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment and criminal mischief.

[Last modified February 12, 2005, 00:25:13]