Michigan State plays in first game since shooting tragedy

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Statewomen’s basketball players wiped away tears as they stood shoulderto shoulder during a moment of silence before losing to No. 8Maryland 66-61 on Saturday, less than a week after three studentswere killed in a shooting on campus.

Diamond Miller scored 29 points and helped the Terrapins (22-5,13-3 Big Ten) hold on for the win after leading by 16 points in thesecond half.

The Spartans (13-13, 5-10) rallied to have a chance at pullingoff an upset, coming up short after DeeDee Hagerman missed a3-pointer with 3 seconds left.

Michigan State players wore white shirts with “Spartan Strong”and the school’s logo in green during warmups while coaches,support staff, administrators, cheerleaders and mascot sported thetops all afternoon.

The victims, and survivors, were honored with pregame remarks asathletic events resumed on a campus and community reeling from thetragedy. On Saturday, four of the wounded students remained incritical condition at a Lansing hospital and one was stillhospitalized in stable condition.

No. 6 UCONN 60, No. 14 VILLANOVA 51

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Lou Lopez Sénéchal scored 22 points,including a crucial rainbow jumper late in the fourth quarter, tolead No. 6 UConn to a victory over Maddy Siegrist andVillanova.

Dorka Juhász added 14 points and 10 rebounds and Aaliyah Edwardshad 13 points and 14 boards for the Huskies (24-4, 16-1 BigEast).

Siegrist, the nation’s leading scorer, had 21 points for theWildcats (23-5, 14-3). Villanova lost just its second contest inthe last 16 — both to the Huskies.

The game was close throughout the first three quarters; theHuskies entered the final quarter leading 44-39 and were up 12before the Wildcats came roaring back, scoring the next 10 pointsover 3:49 to make it 52-50 with 3:55 to play.

Edwards ended UConn’s 4:39 scoring drought with a layup to makeit 54-50. Then Sénéchal nailed her high-arching shot from closerange to give the Huskies a five-point advantage that proved enoughcushion.

No. 7 IOWA 80, NEBRASKA 60

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Caitlin Clark scored 30 points, MonikaCzinano added 20 and Iowa pulled away in the second half for a winover Nebraska.

The Hawkeyes (22-5, 14-2) moved a game behind Big Ten-leadingIndiana with two regular-season games left.

Jaz Shelley had 19 points and nine rebounds and Alexis Markowskihad 15 points and nine rebounds for the Cornhuskers (14-13, 6-10),who lost their fourth straight.

Clark and Czinano combined for 15 of the Hawkeyes’ 21 points inthe third quarter, when they stretched their 40-33 halftime lead to61-47.

Iowa, which beat the Huskers 80-76 in Iowa City last month, haswon eight in a row in the series.

No. 20 GONZAGA 65, SAINT MARY’S 51

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Yvonne Ejim scored 25 points and KaylynneTruong hit four 3-pointers and added 14 points to help Gonzaga beatSaint Mary’s nd extend its win streak against the Gaels to six.

Ejim hit a jumper and Truong followed with a 3-pointer to makeit 5-0 and the Bulldogs never trailed. Brynna Maxwell was fouled asshe hit a 3-pointer and made the and-1 free throw to cap a 10-2 runand give Gonzaga a 19-10 lead with 6:13 left in the second quarter.Maxwell, who finished with nine points on 2-of-9 shooting, has madeat least one 3-pointer in each game this season.

Gonzaga (25-3, 15-1 West Coast Conference) has won four in a rowand 19 of 20 since an 84-63 loss at then-No. 2 Stanford.

Ali Bamberger led Saint Mary’s (12-16, 6-11) with 13 points andTaycee Wedin scored 10.

No. 22 IOWA STATE 81, BAYLOR 77, 2OT

WACO, Texas (AP) — Ashley Joens scored 27 points and Iowa Stategot double-digit scoring from all five starters, defeatingBaylor.

Lexi Donarski hit a jumper and Joens added a 3-pointer to putIowa State up 76-71 in the second OT. In the final minute, firstJaden Owens and then Ja’Mee Asberry scored to get Baylor within78-77 with 10 seconds left. Joens was fouled and made both freethrows with nine seconds left. Her steal with seven seconds left,followed by her made free throw, sealed the win for the Cyclones(17-7, 9-5 Big 12).

There were four lead changes and two ties in overtime, the lasttie coming at 71-all on a 3-pointer by Iowa State’s Lexi Donarskiwith 27 seconds to go. Baylor called timeout, worked the clockdown, and Asberry missed a 3-pointer as time ran out.

Three players had double-doubles for Baylor (16-10, 7-7).Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, a part-time starter who did not start inthis one, had 19 points and 12 rebounds; Bella Fontleroy had 19points and 11 rebounds; and Caitlin Bickle had 13 points and 12rebounds. Owens added nine points and 10 assists.