Wednesday's Top 25 Women's Capsules

Dec 31, 2008 - 11:47 PM (1) CONNECTICUT 78, HARTFORD 41

HARTFORD, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Renee Montgomery led all scorers with 20 points as top-ranked Connecticut steamrolled Hartford, 78-41, on Wednesday.

Montgomery scored all of her points in the opening 20 minutes as the Huskies (12-0) forged a commanding 49-16 halftime lead.

Tina Charles scored 17 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for UConn while Maya Moore netted 11 off the bench.

The Huskies, who shot 56 percent (34-of-61) from the field, improved to 24-0 against in-state opponents since Geno Auriemma took over as coach in 1985.

The overwhelmed Hawks (5-7), who were held to 27 percent shooting (15-of-56), got 10 points from Illicia Mathis.

(11) DUKE 66, PROVIDENCE 49

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Ticker) -- Chante Black scored 17 points and Abby Waner added 13 as No. 11 Duke topped Providence, 66-49, for its ninth straight victory.

The Blue Devils (11-1) held a 32-24 lead at the half before the Friars closed within 42-41 in the second half on the strength of a 17-10 run.

Yet, that would be the closest that Providence would get as Duke later went on a 24-8 burst to pull away.

Jasmine Thomas and Karima Christmas had nine points apiece for the Blue Devils, who forced the Friars into 29 turnovers.

Shantee Darrian had 13 points and 15 rebounds for Providence (6-6), which shot 25 percent (16-of-63) from the field.

(17) OHIO STATE 68, NORTHWESTERN 59

EVANSTON, Illinois (Ticker) -- Jantel Lavender had 15 points and nine rebounds as No. 17 Ohio State used a second-half push to record a 68-59 victory over Northwestern in the Big Ten Conference.

Samantha Prahalis scored 11 points and handed out six assists and Shavelle Little netted 10 and grabbed six steals for the Buckeyes (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten), who held a 36-31 lead at the half before taking off.

Although Northwestern closed with three points in the opening moments after intermission, Ohio State fired back with a 17-6 run to open up a 53-39 advantage with 12:56 remaining.

The Wildcats (4-10, 0-3) got no closer than six points thereafter in losing for the third time in their last four games.

Amy Jaeschke scored 24 points for Northwestern, which remained winless in the Big Ten despite shooting 53.5 percent (23-of-43) from the field.