Huskies Survive a Scare, Set Up Big East Showdown

Ketia Swanier hit the go-ahead layup with 1.6 seconds left last night and top-ranked Connecticut rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat DePaul, 77-76, in Chicago.

The Huskies (28-1, 14-1 Big East) close the season at home tomorrow against Rutgers -- the only team to beat U-Conn. this season -- with the conference regular season title at stake.

After DePaul (18-10, 7-8) let its huge lead get away, Allie Quigley's baseline jumper with 30.9 seconds to go put the Blue Demons ahead 76-74.

After a U-Conn. timeout, Renee Montgomery attempted a three-pointer but Quigley fouled her with 14.6 seconds left. Montgomery missed the first free throw, made the second and then missed the third.

In a scramble, the ball was knocked out to DePaul's Missy Mitidiero, but U-Conn.'s Maya Moore came from behind to steal it and call a timeout with seven seconds left.

Swanier then drove the floor and through the lane for a layup. After two inbounds attempts by the Blue Demons were knocked out of bounds, Taylor Pikes's tip attempt was wide and the upset bid was over.

¿ TEXAS A&M 72, BAYLOR 53: Morenike Atunrase had 24 points and the No. 20 Aggies got a surprisingly easy home win over the eighth-ranked Lady Bears to extend their Big 12 conference-best winning streak to five games.

Sixteen of Atunrase's points came in a key run in the first half that stretched the Aggies' lead from one point to 19 at halftime.

Baylor (24-4, 12-3) had a chance to clinch at least a share of the regular season league title, but instead suffered its worst loss since a 24-point defeat by then-No. 5 Stanford in December.

Baylor won its first meeting with A&M this season with a last-minute three-pointer, but this time the Aggies (22-7, 10-5) took over midway through the first half and led by double-digits for the rest of the game.