Musketeers Clinch Spot In NCAAs

Jerri Taylor hit two clutch free throws in the final seconds and scored 14 points, helping Xavier rally past top-seeded Temple yesterday in Philadelphia, 47-42, to capture its second consecutive Atlantic 10 tournament championship and another NCAA tournament berth.

Amber Harris added 12 points and five blocked shots and Ta'Shia Phillips had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Musketeers (24-8), who beat Saint Joseph's in last year's final.

Ashley Morris scored 12 points for the Owls, who are still likely to earn an at-large tournament berth.

¿ STANFORD 56, CALIFORNIA 35: Candice Wiggins wrapped up her Pacific-10 career in style, producing her own 13-0 run in the first half and finishing her phenomenal conference career with 30 points, leading the No. 4 Cardinal past the Golden Bears in San Jose for the Pacific-10 tournament title and an automatic NCAA tournament berth.

Top-seeded Stanford (30-3) won its 18th straight game and likely will be rewarded with a No. 1 NCAA seed. For No. 8 California (26-6), in its first Pac-10 tournament final, no one scored more than six points.

¿ CONNECTICUT 74, PITTSBURGH 47: Tina Charles scored 21 points and Renee Montgomery added 15 to help the Huskies (31-1) cruise past the Panthers (22-10) in the Big East conference tournament semifinals in Hartford, Conn.

Top-ranked Connecticut will face No. 23 Louisville in the championship game tonight. It's the fourth straight year the Huskies, who lost in last season's final against Rutgers but won the previous two, are in the title game.

¿ LOUISVILLE 67, WEST VIRGINIA 60: Angel McCoughtry scored 24 points and the Cardinals advanced to their first Big East tournament final by holding off the 16th-ranked Mountaineers in Hartford.

It was the 10th win in the past 11 games for the Cardinals (24-8), and followed Sunday's 57-56 upset of No. 7 Rutgers.

LaQuita Owens had 23 points for West Virginia (24-7).

¿ CHATTANOOGA 71, WESTERN CAROLINA 59: In North Charleston, S.C., Alex Anderson had 25 points and Laura Hall 22 to lead the Lady Mocs back to the NCAAs with their third straight Southern Conference tournament title.

Chattanooga (29-3) beat the Lady Catamounts (25-8) to continue a near-decade of league dominance, winning its seventh tournament title in the past eight years. The Lady Mocs have won their past 24 games -- the country's longest streak.