College basketball

USF barely challenged in opener

By wire services
Published March 4, 2005

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Nalini Miller had 14 points in her best game since returning to the lineup last month, and USF held Southern Miss to two field goals and 12.5 percent shooting in the first half en route to a 68-47 win in the first round of the Conference USA tournament Thursday afternoon.

Rachael Sheats also had 14 points all-conference player Jessica Dickson had 12 for the fifth-seeded Bulls, who won their first conference tournament game since 2000 and the third in program history. USF has won six straight overall and eight of 11 as it seeks its first NCAA Tournament berth.

"We came out with a lot of enthusiasm today," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. "We came out and forced 19 turnovers (in the first half) and defensively we did what we needed to do."

The Bulls face No. 4 seed TCU at 3:30 p.m. today.

USF forced 12th-seeded Southern Miss into a tournament-record 37 turnovers, shattering the mark of 28 and the most by a Bulls opponent this season. The Eagles' 12 first-half points tied the fifth fewest in a half ever against the Bulls.

USF took a 13-2 lead 6:31 in and never was threatened. The Bulls shot a 46.9 percent (15-of-32) in the second half.

MEMPHIS 76, ECU 67: Victoria Crawford came off the bench to score 15 of her 21 in the second half as the ninth-seeded Tigers rallied. Memphis stormed back from a 38-32 halftime deficit to take a 45-44 lead with 13:32 left on Tamika Butler's 3-pointer, one of five for the sophomore.

CHARLOTTE 63, UC 46: Sakellie Daniels scored 22 to lead three players in double figures for the sixth-seeded 49ers, who held the Bearcats to eight first-half field goals and cruised.

MARQUETTE 78, UAB 53: Christina Quaye had 20 points and Lesley Juedes made 4 of 5 3-pointers as the seventh-seeded Golden Eagles pulled away.

ALABAMA 62, UF 58: Monique Bivins scored 25 in Greenville, S.C., as the Crimson Tide gave retiring coach Rick Moody at least one more game.

Moody, the school's all-time wins leader, announced last month he would leave the job he has held the past 16 seasons. And with ninth-seeded Alabama trailing by 14 in the opening half, Moody's career looked finished.

Bivins helped guarantee him another time on the bench, hitting two of her six 3-pointers to break a halftime tie at 32 and sinking two free throws with 2:25 left to put the Tide up for good at 58-57.

AUBURN 62, KENTUCKY 57: Nicole Louden tied her career high with 23 points, and the seventh-seeded Tigers held off a late charge. Sara Potts had 10 of her 22 points in the final 10 minutes as the Wildcats cut the lead to 58-55. Louden then hit four free throws down the stretch.

OLE MISS 53, S.C. 50: Armintie Price had 19 points, including a putback of her miss as the fifth-seed Rebels took the lead in the final minute and held on.

ARKANSAS 80, MISS. ST. 73: Sarah Pfeifer had 23 points and the 11th-seeded Razorbacks overcame Tan White's 38 points.

NO. 7 BAYLOR 79, NO. 13 TEXAS TECH 69: Chelsea Whitaker had 16 points and eight assists, many at key times, and the host Bears clinched their first Big 12 regular-season title outright.

NO. 24 GONZAGA 77, PORTLAND 42: Ashley Burke scored 16 of her 18 in the second half, and the Bulldogs won their 22nd straight in the first round of the West Coast Conference tournament in Santa Clara, Calif.

[Last modified March 4, 2005, 00:31:15]