American Falls in Semifinals

American fell behind by 11 points in the first half and did not establish its shooting rhythm until the final minute in a 60-52 loss to Bucknell yesterday in a Patriot League semifinal at Christl Arena in West Point, N.Y.

The Eagles (18-13) secured a berth in the WNIT after they won the conference regular season title, but they were hoping for the first NCAA tournament berth in program history. Pam Stanfield scored a career-high 17 points for American. Joyce Novacek scored 18 points for the Bison (15-15).

¿ BIG EAST: Angel McCoughtry had 20 points and a big blocked shot at the end as Louisville upset No. 4 Rutgers, 57-56, in a second-round game in Hartford, Conn. Candyce Bingham, who appeared to be fighting off leg cramps in the second half, added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Cardinals (23-8).

Epiphany Prince and Matee Ajavon each had 13 points for Rutgers (24-6), the defending tournament champion. . . .

Pittsburgh's Xenia Stewart made a three-pointer with 56 seconds left to help break open a close game and upset No. 9 Notre Dame, 64-53. "I didn't feel like I was contributing enough to my team," Stewart said. "They just told me to look for my shot and that's all it took."

Marcedes Walker had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Panthers (22-9). Charel Allen had 17 points for Notre Dame (23-8). The Fighting Irish came in with a 17-1 record in the series. . . .

Renee Montgomery had 19 points as top-ranked Connecticut (30-1) routed DePaul, 86-67. Allie Quigley had 17 to lead the ninth-seeded Blue Demons (20-11).

¿ ACC: Unlike second-ranked North Carolina's previous two routs of No. 12 Duke, its 86-73 victory for the conference championship in Greensboro, N.C., wasn't over by halftime. The Tar Heels (30-2) had defeated the Blue Devils (23-9) by 31 last week.

"They played a faster tempo. Last game, they were walking up the court and a lot of players didn't shoot well," North Carolina's LaToya Pringle said.