Texas Tech has won seven of its last nine games, the only losses coming against Big 12 regular- season and tournament champion Baylor. If we execute the way we' re capable, we' re going to come out victorious " Givens said " Defense plays a big part of us jumping into our offense " Michelle Elliott scored 17 points and Katy Ridenour added 10 in her final college game, but the overmatched Zags( 24- 10) committed a season- high 37 turnovers and went nearly 11 minutes without a field goal in the first half when the Blue Raiders( 30- 3) began their rout. Life's too short to take time away from either side by holding someone back" -Jerry Tarkanian, coach at Nevada Las Vegas: "I would never hold a kid who wants out of a letter. Zavecz led Wyoming with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists while Ashley Elliott finished with 14 point. -Churchill Downs officials, noting the betting aberration, questioned the mutuel clerk who sold the ticket.

C( AP- Seven years had passed since North Carolina cut down the nets at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, a span that saw Duke pass the Tar Heels as the league' s premier program On Monday night, the Tar Heels( No 3 ESPN/ USA Today; No 4 AP) finally returned to the top in satisfying fashion. 1-ranked Steffi Graf twice this year, also will play, according to her management firm. NASHVILLE, Tenn( AP- Mario Moore hit a running three- pointer from 30 feet at the buzzer as Vanderbilt stunned Oregon 76- 75 Wednesday night. Dicky played 17 minutes and had nine points and six rebounds; Fredrick had six points " You' re going to see those guys play a little more because the one thing they can do is score " Hewitt said " I' ve just got to find a way to get them in the lineup " The Yellow Jackets had won their first seven games and were ranked No. He finished 4- of- 8 on 3s, including two on each side of halftime to give North Carolina a commanding lead. Associated PressTUCSON, Ariz- No. Shelton picked up a foul while chasing down the opening tip 3 seconds into the game, setting the tone.

Chase Ellis completed 9 of 17 passes for 51 yards and two interceptions for the Bears( 0- 2, an NAIA program. Three defenders, each with both eyes on Grier at all times " I knew it was coming " said Grier, whose runner cut Michigan State' s advantage to 46- 40 with 13: 09 remaining. 4 points during its five- game winning streak, which began after a 68- 67 loss to Tennessee on Jan 8. "Probably half of these people were here to party, and I would just as soon not throw those games.

"There are really very few feelings better than to be the No 1 shotputter over thousands in the state" Carter said. Having hit . 266 last year, the Reds are now hitting . 246 and averaging 4 runs per game. FAIRFIELD, Conn( AP- Center Kibwe Trim scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Sacred Heart University to a 77- 74 win over Long Island University on Saturday. Casey McDowell scored 14 points and reserve Amber Flynn added eight while grabbing a career- high 10 rebounds for Bowling Green, which overcame less than stellar play in the second half to extend its conference winning streak to 20.

Quarterback Josh Nesbitt, making his first start, ran for two touchdowns- including one after recovering his fumble- and Georgia Tech beat Jacksonville State 41- 14 on Thursday night to spoil Ryan Perrilloux' s debut with the Gamecocks. It was a full day' s work " The Cardinals( 6- 1, 4- 0 Conference USA) came in with the nation' s top- ranked offense. The new Inland Empire Speedway in Glen Helen Park in San Bernardino will open next Wednesday night, according to American Raceways promoter John F La Douceur. In 21 NCAA Tournaments, he' s 65- 17, tying Dean Smith' s total for the most career victories " He doesn' t like to bring those things up " Blue Devils guard J J Redick said " I actually knew I try to keep up with all his wins and all his stats I knew that was going on, but he hasn' t talked about it. "Our rules say, in that case, the first thing we do is find substitute officials, which we did" Ziegler said. Cochell, who took Oral Roberts to the Series in 1978, becomes only the third coach to guide teams from different schools to the Series. Wright missed the front end of the one- and- one when Marsh was whistled for the fourth time, leaving the Lobos clinging to a 43- 42 lead with six minutes to go.

Montanana came in averaging 17 points but finished with just four points on 1- for- 9 shooting. Laurie Koehn contributed 16 points and Claire Coggins 14 while Megan Mahoney also had 12 rebounds. Mannion had appeared to have lost his position after Jim Osborn replaced him the day after that ejection and hit two home runs in a game. STARKVILLE, Miss. That gave Baylor a chance to tie the game in the final minute. If ever the Angels had a better than 50-50 opportunity against Clemens, it was Monday night.

The Tigers coasted into halftime with a 44- 18 cushion while holding McNeese State to 29 7- percent shooting and forcing 16 turnovers Second- year McNeese State coach Dave Simmons fell below. Washington State (51-13, the Pacific 10 Northern Division champion, had four, including John Olerud 23rd of the season. Chatsworth (23-1) At Chatsworth 3 Chatsworth, which coasted through an undefeated West Valley League season, is seeded first in the 16-team bracket. The Pistons, you see, have a way of bringing out the beast in people, which is one reason the National Basketball Assn.

Perhaps inspired by his performance, Scott' s teammates also found the range from beyond the arc, finishing 10- of- 21 " We didn' t do a good job of defending the 3 " Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek said " Give UNC a credit on a job well done " With N C. Illinois( 2- 7, 0- 6) lost its sixth straight, further dimming coach Ron Turner' s future " When we have opportunities and need to make plays, whether it' s defense, special teams or offense, we' re not doing it " Turner said " It' s not a matter of anything else, just not making plays when we needed them, and a lot of that has to do with confidence " Iowa' s defense, which came into the game ranked fourth in the nation against the run, held the Illini to just 58 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Tettleton, released by Oakland in spring training and brought up from the minors last month by Baltimore, hit a 1-and-2 pitch off reliever Guillermo Hernandez for his fifth homer of the season. Fred Lynn hit a single with one out, and Hernandez relieved starter Walt Terrell Pete Stanicek, running for Lynn, stole second After Jim Traber walked, Tettleton hit his home run Hernandez (3-2) had not allowed a run since May 17. 9 AP) outscored the Seminoles 44- 28 in the paint, but shot just seven free throws- 17 fewer than Florida State " I don' t know what else we can do to get more foul shots " Hatchell said.

Gasser missed his only other two shots in the game " We dug ourselves too big of a hole in the first 12 minutes of the game " said McKay, whose Lobos scored only two points in the first 10 minutes and trailed 21- 5 with 8 minutes left in the first half " We uncharacteristically turned it over way too many times. Eastern New Mexico( 9- 16, 2- 8) was led by Jamaal Hunnicutt with 28 points and Irshaun Pinckney with 21. Green nailed a 3- pointer with 8 minutes to go in the first half that gave the Gators their biggest lead at 30- 14. LAS CRUCES, N. But Wisconsin came into Saturday' s game wary of the Wildcats, who nearly upset the Badgers in a close 56- 50 loss Jan. Stanford( 4- 6, 2- 5) lost its fourth straight, was eliminated from bowl contention, and is going to be hard- pressed to improve on last season' s 4- 7 finish when the Cardinal wrap up their season at Cal in the Big Game next week Redshirt freshman T C.