Tar Heels Repeat as ACC Champs

Top-ranked North Carolina avenged its only loss and won another Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship Sunday in Greensboro, N.C.

Erlana Larkins scored a career-high 26 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Tar Heels past fourth-ranked Maryland, 91-80, giving North Carolina its second consecutive ACC tournament title and a likely No. 1 seeding for the NCAA tournament. Ivory Latta also scored 26 to earn MVP honors for the Tar Heels (29-1).

Jade Perry scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures for the Terrapins (28-4), who were seeking an unprecedented ninth title.

No. 8 Tennessee 63, No. 3 Louisiana State 62 -- Candace Parker made a driving, one-handed shot from the left side of the lane with 17 seconds left, and the Lady Vols (28-4) held on to win the Southeastern Conference title in North Little Rock, Ark.

No. 5 Ohio State 68, No. 16 Michigan State 64 -- Debbie Merrill scored seven of her 15 points during a late flurry for the Buckeyes (27-2), helping the Big Ten regular-season champions win their 18th consecutive game and reach tonight’s tournament final in Indianapolis.

No. 6 Rutgers 60, Villanova 37 -- Cappie Pondexter scored 20 of her 24 points in the second half to lead the Scarlet Knights (25-3) in the Big East Conference tournament in Hartford, Conn.

No. 7 Connecticut 71, Notre Dame 60 -- Barbara Turner scored 19 points and Ketia Swanier added a career-high 11 to lead the Huskies (27-4) in a Big East tournament quarterfinal.

No. 14 Purdue 67, Indiana 41 -- Aya Traore scored 11 points and Katie Gearlds added 10 to lead the second-seeded Boilermakers (24-5) in a Big Ten tournament semifinal.

No. 15 DePaul 69, Pittsburgh 46 -- Caprice Smith scored 17 points to lead the third-seeded Blue Demons (25-5) in a Big East tournament quarterfinal.

No. 22 Temple 76, Duquesne 63 -- Candice Dupree scored 31 points in Philadelphia, and the Owls (23-7) advanced to the championship game of the Atlantic 10 tournament for the third straight year.