Connecticut Routs Waves

Diana Taurasi had 26 points and 10 rebounds as third-ranked Connecticut beat Pepperdine, 109-48, at Storrs, Conn., Friday night for its 47th consecutive victory.

The Huskies (8-0), the defending national champions, were 39-0 last season. The victory also gave Connecticut the second-longest streak in NCAA history. Louisiana Tech won 54 in a row from 1980-82.

The Waves (5-4) could do little to stop Taurasi from the opening tip. The junior guard, who made 10 of 17 shots, scored 14 consecutive points to help Connecticut take a 23-8 lead and had 21 points in the first half. She finished with seven assists. Connecticut limited Pepperdine to 24% shooting in the first half and led, 54-20, at halftime. The Huskies scored 32 points off 21 Pepperdine turnovers.

Shandrika Lee led the Waves with 15 points. Nicole Funn added 10.

No. 7 Kansas State 92, Western Michigan 75 -- Megan Mahoney had 20 points and Kansas State (10-1) tied a school record with 15 three-point field goals to win at Manhattan, Kan. Kristin Koetsier’s 23 points led Western Michigan (4-3).

No. 9 Texas Tech 66, Tennessee Chattanooga 53 -- Plenette Pierson scored 10 of her 17 points in the second half as Texas Tech (6-1) got past Chattanooga (6-2) in the Paradise Classic at Honolulu.

No. 13 North Carolina 78, No. 18 South Carolina 69 -- Nikita Bell had 15 points as North Carolina (8-1) ended South Carolina’s best start in 14 seasons with the victory at Myrtle Beach, S.C. Jocelyn Penn had 29 points for South Carolina (8-1).

No. 14 Mississippi St. 81, Central Florida 30 -- Reserve Doceide Warren scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Mississippi State (8-1) at Orlando, Fla. Central Florida (4-5) shot 23.5% and scored only 13 points in the second half.

Houston 81, No. 20 Georgia 78 -- Chandi Jones scored 37 points, making five of six three-point shots, as Houston (6-3) won at home. Georgia (6-3) had a 37-36 halftime edge but made only 38% of its shots in the second half.

George Mason 63, No. 21 George Washington 57 -- Vernessa Neamo scored 19 points, and George Mason (3-2) took advantage of 24 turnovers by George Washington (4-2) in the upset at Washington.