Sunday’s college basketball roundup: No. 3 Louisville women shut down No. 23 Virginia Tech

Hailey Van Lith scored 20 points to lead No. 3 Louisville to a 70-56 home victory over No. 23 Virginia Tech on Sunday.

Coming off a one-point loss Thursday at No. 22 North Carolina, the Cardinals (23-3, 14-2 ACC) dominated from the start. They led 13-4 less than five minutes into the contest and never trailed against the Hokies (20-7, 12-4).

The Cardinals clinched a double-bye for next month’s conference tournament. The Hokies, with a win, could have passed Louisville for the second seed.

The Hokies (20-7, 12-4) made just 9 of 24 shots in the first half. Elizabeth Kitley led the Hokies with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Aisha Sheppard was held to just eight points. However, the fifth-year guard still became the Hokies’ all-time leading scorer. She now has 1,792 points, surpassing the 1,791 Renee Dennis scored from 1983-1987.

More region/state women

William & Mary 61, Hofstra 48: The Tribe (10-15, 5-9 CAA) boosted its winning streak to four games, holding the Pride in the second half to 19 points, 23% shooting and 15 turnovers.

W&M survived 34% shooting behind Sydney Wagner’s 25 points and four assists. Riley Casey and Bre Bellamy scored 10 apiece, and Bellamy had five rebounds and three steals. Wagner hit all 10 of her free throws, including six in the last 3:45. Kate Sramac grabbed 11 rebounds.

Longwood 77, Hampton 51: Despite Nylah Young’s 15 points and Jermany Mapp’s 10, the Pirates (10-14, 6-8 Big South) lost to the Lancers (16-11, 13-3) at the HU Convocation Center.

Akila Smith scored 17 points, Tra’Dayja Smith 16 and Ocean Lakes High alumna Kyla McMakin 14 for Longwood. The Lancers held HU to 30.9% shooting (17 of 55), including 1 of 10 from 3-point range.

Virginia 74, Pittsburgh 65: After losing their first 13 ACC games, the host Cavaliers won their second in a row. Taylor Valladay surged to 30 points, Mir McLean had 16 points and eight rebounds and London Clarkson had 10 points and five rebounds.

Dayshanette Harris had 16 points for Pitt, but U.Va. outscored the Panthers 20-12 in the fourth quarter.

James Madison 73, UNC Wilmington 51: The Dukes (12-13, 8-6 CAA) shot a season-best 54.7% (29 of 53) as they beat the Seahawks (3-21, 0-14) before 2,979 in Harrisonburg.

Kiki Jefferson scored 21 points and Madison Green 15 for JMU.

Johnson & Wales 91, Apprentice 69: Despite Jordan Wilson’s 17 points, the host Builders (3-15, 2-8) lost their regular-season finale. They’ll open the Eastern Metro Athletic Conference tourney at home at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Regent.

Tanaeschia Dorsey had 25 points for the Wildcats (17-3, 9-1) of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Also for Apprentice, Alena Puaauli-Pelham had 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals. Brittney Jones added 15 points and Ashawnti Williams finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Top 10 women

No. 1 South Carolina 67, Tennessee 53: Aliyah Boston had 16 points and 12 rebounds to match the Southeastern Conference mark of 19 straight double-doubles as host South Carolina (25-1, 13-1) clinched the SEC tourney’s top seed. She tied the mark of LSU great Sylvia Fowles accomplished 15 years ago.

Tennessee (21-6, 10-4) got 14 points from Rae Burrell.

No. 2 Stanford 66, Oregon 62: Haley Jones scored 18 points for Stanford (23-3, 14-0), which rallied in the fourth quarter to remain undefeated in the Pac-12 by beating the host Ducks (18-9, 10-5).

Jones made a layup while falling to the ground and added a free throw with 36.4 seconds left. Stanford hung on for its 15th straight win.

No. 4 N.C. State 95, Syracuse 53: Kayla Jones scored a season-high 18 points as N.C. State clinched a share of the ACC regular-season title for the first time since 1990. Jakia Brown-Turner added 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Wolfpack (25-3, 16-1). Chrislyn Carr scored 14 for the visiting Orange (11-15, 4-12).

Washington State 72, No. 8 Arizona 67: Johanna Teder scored 21 points, including seven in the final two minutes, for the host Cougars (18-8, 10-5 Pac-12) against the Wildcats (19-5, 9-5). Belle Murekatete contributed 16 points, making 8 of 10 shots, and Charlisse Leger-Walker had 15 points and six assists.

No. 9 Michigan 71, Maryland 59: Naz Hillmon had 29 points and 11 rebounds to help the Wolverines (21-4, 12-3) take over first place in the Big Ten. Chloe Bibby scored 15 for the visiting Terrapins (20-7, 12-4).

No. 10 Connecticut 90, Georgetown 49: Christyn Williams scored 19 points for the Huskies (19-5, 13-1 Big East). Reigning national Player of the Year Paige Bueckers, who has been out since Dec. 5 with a left knee injury, participated in pregame warmups as she gets closer to returning to the floor. Mary Clougherty had 15 points for the Hoyas (7-17, 2-14).

Region/state men

Johnson & Wales 81, Apprentice 72: Corey Joyner led the Builders (12-13, 6-4) with 17 points and nine assists in his final regular-season home game, but the Wildcats (14-10, 9-1) won by outscoring Apprentice 23-13 down the stretch. Anthoney Ray scored 24 points for Johnson & Wales.

Apprentice will return to its home court Thursday for an Eastern Metro Athletic Conference semifinal against the winner between Regent and Mid-Atlantic Christian.

Central Florida 69, East Carolina 66: Darin Green Jr. scored 19 points and hit a 3-pointer as time expired in Orlando.

With 2.3 seconds remaining, Green caught an inbounds pass and launched from near the left baseline, the ball passing through the net as time expired.

Darius Perry had 12 points for UCF (16-9, 8-7 American), which earned its fourth straight home victory. Tyem Freeman added 11 points. Darius Johnson had seven rebounds and six assists.

Tristen Newton had 19 points for the Pirates (13-13, 4-10).

Top 25 men

No. 5 Purdue 84, Rutgers 72: Jaden Ivey scored 25 points, Zach Edey added 15 points and host Purdue ended Rutgers’ recent run of success against ranked teams.

Rutgers had won its last four games, all against teams in the Top 25. The Scarlet Knights also had beaten Purdue in December.

Ivey hit 15 of 18 free throws. Trevion Williams and Sasha Stefanovic each scored 11 points and Mason Gillis 10 for the Boilermakers (24-4, 13-4 Big Ten). Paul Mulcahy scored 15, Clifford Omoruyi added 14 and Ron Harper Jr. had 12 for Rutgers (16-10, 10-6).

No. 8 Providence 71, Butler 70 (OT): Jared Bynum made two free throws with 38 seconds left in overtime, capping a rally by Providence (22-4, 12-2 Big East) rally from a 19-point deficit in Indianapolis.

Down 43-24 early in the second half and still trailing by seven points with 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Friars (22-4, 12-2 Big East) overtook the Bulldogs to stay atop the conference. Chuck Harris had 17 points and Aaron Thompson added 16 for Butler (13-15, 6-11).

No. 14 Houston 76, Wichita State 74 (2OT): J’Wan Roberts’ dunk with 1.3 seconds remaining in double overtime lifted Houston (22-4, 11-2 American) to a road victory.

It was Roberts’ only basket of the game and followed Wichita State’s Craig Porter hitting a tying 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds remaining in the second overtime. Porter and Ricky Council each scored 17 for the Shockers (13-10, 4-7).

No. 17 Southern California 62, Washington State 60: Boogie Ellis hit a 16-foot jumper from the foul line with two-tenths of a second left to lift USC in Los Angeles.

Washington State had a 60-57 advantage before USC scored the final five points. Max Agbonkpolo hit a 3-pointer to tie it with 2:15 remaining.

Ellis scored 21 points, with six coming in the final five minutes. Drew Peterson added 17 points for the Trojans (23-4, 12-4 Pac-12). They have won four straight and are off to their best start since 1974.

Tyrell Roberts had 16 points for the Cougars (14-12, 7-8).