Eight games highlight Saturday women's basketball action around The American, including No. 3/3 UConn's win over RV/RV Vanderbilt.
No. 3/3 UConn 91, RV/RV Vanderbilt 52
Kia Nurse and Morgan Tuck each scored 16 points as No. 3/3 UConn advanced to the championship of the Gulf Coast Showcase with a 91-52 victory over Vanderbilt Saturday night in Estero, Fla. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis added 14 points while Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson both had 12 points for the Huskies (4-1), who will play Wisconsin-Green Bay in the championship finale on Sunday.
NR/RV Tulane 71, Northern Iowa 48
After suffering their first loss on Friday, Tulane bounced back on the final day of the Hofstra Thanksgiving Tournament, defeating Northern Iowa 71-48. The Green Wave moved to 5-1 on the win and the Panthers fell to 1-4. Nine different Tulane players contributed to the team scoring with Tierra Jones leading the way with 12 points. Kolby Morgan collected her sixth straight game in double figures and her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 9/10 Kentucky 61, RV/RV USF 57
Having already faced one national Top 10 opponent in its only loss of the year heading into Saturday, USF women’s basketball nearly toppled its second Top-10 foe. The Bulls (5-2 overall) led No. 9/10 Kentucky through the first 33 minutes of the Paradise Jam Championship game late Saturday night, and were tied with the Wildcats in the final minute, only to see an upset opportunity slip through their fingers in a 61-57 loss. Courtney Williams paced USF with 23 points. She was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.
RV/RV Arkansas-Little Rock 66, Memphis 59
Memphis dropped a close 66-59 decision to RV/RV Arkansas-Little Rock (UALR) Saturday afternoon at Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Ariel Hearn led the Tigers with 22 points, her third consecutive 20-plus point game. Brianna Wright added a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds, while Asia Fuqua-Bey chipped in 11 points.
USC 64, SMU 57
A late rally pushed USC Trojans past SMU, 64-57, in the championship game of the SMU Thanksgiving Classic Saturday night at Moody Coliseum. Junior forward Destynee Hives-McCray scored eight points and grabbed 13 boards, earning all-tournament honors. Freshman forward Taylor Brame and junior guard Gabrielle Wilkins tied for a team high in scoring with 12 points apiece, while freshman forward Alicia Froling was the third Mustang in double figures, chipping in with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Miami (Fla.) 69, Tulsa 57
Tulsa dropped a 69-57 decision to Miami (Fla.) in the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament. The Golden Hurricane fell to 3-3 on the season, while the Hurricanes moved to 4-2 overall. Ashley Clark had a team-leading 17 points, followed by Kelsee Grovey with 11 and Mariah Turner with 10. Clark also had a team-best eight rebounds, while Kadan Brady had three assists and three steals.
RV/23 James Madison 84, Houston 60
Houston fell in their final game of the 2014 San Juan Shootout, 84-60, to No. RV/23 James Madison Saturday evening at Mario Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Jessieka Palmer paced the Cougars with 18 points in the defeat. Mariah Mitchell had her best performance as a collegian with nine points, Tyler Gilbert added nine as well and Alexia Sanders scored eight.
San Jose State 79, Cincinnati 54
Despite a career-best 22 points from freshman point guard Ana Owens, Cincinnati dropped a 79-54 loss to San Jose State Saturday evening in the consolation game of the Cal Classic. Jasmine Whitfield was the only other Bearcat to reach double digits in the game with 10 points. She now has at least 10 points in four of five games and has reached double digits in scoring nine times in her career.