Sports

Nation's best play for top spot

Christian Schmidt
Womenis Top 25

No. 1 versus No. 2. It just doesnit get any better than that.

Add a record-breaking win streak and two of the nationis best players (who will likely guard each other at some point in the game) and everything is perfectly set for one of the best games of the season.

When Duke and Connecticut play this weekend, it just might be a preview of the national title game. They are the best teams in the country and the only teams still undefeated.

Duke star Alana Beard, a consensus first team All-American last year, will look to rebound from a season-low seven points in a win for the Lady Blue Devils over Florida State on Sunday. For the season, the junior guard/forward is averaging 23.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game.

Connecticut, led by the play of junior guard Diana Taurasi, has amassed 57 consecutive wins, an NCAA womenis basketball record.

Taurasi, also a consensus first-team All-American last season, averages 18.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

This game should be a good one for all fans of exciting, top-notch basketball. Even if you arenit normally a fan of womenis college basketball, check this game out.

Vols hang tough

Mississippi Stateis LaToya Thomas scored 28 points against Tennessee (four more than her season average of 24.4), but it wasnit enough to beat the Lady Volunteers.

Tennessee won the game 82-68, extending its record to 15-3 overall, 5-0 in conference. Mississippi State dropped to 14-4 overall, 3-2 in conference.

Tennesseeis Gwen Jackson scored 25 points (18 in the second half) and 12 rebounds and guarded Thomas for much of the game.

Change is good

The rankings got a big shake-up this week with only five teams (No. 1 Duke, No. 2 Connecticut, No. 3 Kansas State, No. 4 Tennessee and No. 20 Villanova) retaining their positions from last week.

No. 15 Minnesota and No. 21 Wisconsin-Green Bay each fell five spots in the rankings. No. 11 Texas and No. 18 Georgia both moved up six spots, the largest changes in the poll.

Representing C-USA

DePaul fell out of the rankings after dropping two consecutive games this weekend, including a 64-58 defeat at the hands of Memphis.

DePaulis slide out of the poll leaves Conference USA with no ranked teams. Cincinnati received 44 votes this week, making it fourth among teams receiving votes that did not make the rankings.

The Houston Lady Cougars will visit DePaul on Friday at 7 p.m. in a conference game.

Conradt gets No. 800

Tennesseeis Pat Summitt didnit have long to wait before she got some company in the 800-win club. Legendary Texas coach Jody Conradt got her 800th win this weekend as the Lady Longhorns beat Texas Tech before dropping a 71-69 decision to Kansas State Sunday.

The Lady iHorns jumped six places in the latest poll to No. 11, their highest ranking of the season.

La. Tech

After starting the season with one win in three games, the Lady Techsters have ripped off 13 consecutive wins, moving them all the way up to No. 9.

With their only games remaining against opponents in the Western Athletic Conference, look for Louisiana Tech to finish the season without any more losses.

Should they finish the season without another loss, La. Tech could be looking at a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament and a good chance at a national title -- something it hasnit done since 1998.

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