COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Ashlyn Watkins had 14 points and 10 rebounds and No. 1 South Carolina claimed a share of its third straight Southeastern Conference regular-season title with a 72-44 win over Alabama on Thursday night, coach Dawn Staley’s 600th career win.
The Gamecocks (26-0, 13-0 SEC) cruised without top scorer and rebounder Kamilla Cardoso, who felt sore following a win over Georgia this past Sunday and got the game off.
Bree Hall had 13 points and Tessa Johnson added 12 as South Carolina extended its SEC mark with its 44th regular-season league win and its 56th straight at home.
Jessica Timmons led Alabama (20-8, 7-6) with 20 points. Sarah Ashlee Barker was held to four points, 13 below her average.
NO. 2 OHIO STATE 82, PENN STATE 69
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Jacy Sheldon scored 20 points, Cotie McMahon and Celeste Taylor added 16 apiece as Ohio State won its 14th straight game.
The Buckeyes (23-3, 14-1 Big Ten) never trailed and led by as many as 30 points midway through the fourth quarter.
Ashley Owusu scored 22 points and Ali Brigham and Leilani Kapinus added 10 apiece for the Lady Lions (16-11, 7-9), who lost their sixth in a row.
DUEK 58, NO. 17 SYRACUSE 45
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Kennedy Brown scored 12 points, Reigan Richardson added 11, and Duke (17-9, 9-6 ACC) halted Syracuse’s five-game win streak.
Syracuse’s Dyaisha Fair , who entered with 3,257 career points, scored 22 on 7-of-25 shooting and is four points shy of tying Brittney Griner for fifth all-time. It was also her 22nd straight game in double figures this season.
Georgia Woolley added 11 points for Syracuse (22-5, 12-4).
NO. 19 NOTRE DAME 74, CLEMSON 47
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Sonia Citron scored 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, Maddy Westbeld had a double-double and Notre Dame dominated the middle quarters in a win over Clemson.
The Irish trailed by two points after one quarter, but led 59-36 entering the fourth. Westbeld had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Notre Dame (20-6, 10-5 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Ruby Whitehorn had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Clemson (11-16, 4-11), which lost its fourth straight.
NO. 20 LOUISVILLE 80, GEORGIA TECH 62
ATLANTA (AP) — Sydney Taylor scored 23 of her season-high 31 points in the first half, Jayda Curry added 13 points and Louisville won its 11th straight in the series.
Taylor surpassed her previous season high in the first half with 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point distance, giving Louisville (22-6, 11-4 ACC) a 43-28 lead. She finished 10 of 16 with seven 3-pointers.
Kara Dunn finished with 17 points and Tonie Morgan added 16 for Georgia Tech (15-13, 6-10).
___
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here
___
AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
