Griner gets No. 1 Baylor women past UConn

Brittney Griner scored 12 of her 25 points during the closing run that pushed top-ranked host Baylor past No. 2 Connecticut, 66-61, last night.

"She's blessed," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said.

The Lady Bears (11-0) overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half and won their second No. 1 vs. No. 2 game this season. Baylor also avenged a one-point loss at Connecticut early last season when the rankings were reversed.

"When you come into a place like this, you really need to withstand many things or you are not going to win," Geno Auriemma said. "For 35 minutes, we did that. I thought we were good enough to win."

The 6-8 Griner also had nine rebounds and nine blocked shots. She made all seven of her free throws, six of them coming in a game-ending 27-11 run as Baylor overcome its biggest deficit of the season.

Odyssey Sims had 23 points for the Lady Bears.

Former North Babylon star Bria Hartley led Connecticut (9-1) with 25 points, and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had 15.

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Oral Roberts 64, Xavier 42: Dominique Morrison scored 19 points, leading Oral Roberts over previously unbeaten and eighth-ranked Xavier, which couldn't do much with three of its starters suspended.

The host Musketeers (8-1) didn't have point guard Tu Holloway, shooting guard Mark Lyons or freshman forward Dez Wells, who account for 40 percent of their points. The trio was suspended for a brawl eight days earlier against crosstown rival Cincinnati.

The depleted lineup couldn't get in sync or keep up with the experienced Golden Eagles (8-4), who start three seniors and two juniors.

UConn 77, Holy Cross 40: Freshman Andre Drummond scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds as No. 9 Connecticut extended its home winning streak to 40 games against non-conference opponents. Alex Oriakhi had 15 points and Shabazz Napier 13 assists for UConn (9-1), which is 117-4 under Jim Calhoun in home games against non-conference opponents from New England, including 114 wins in the last 115 such games. R.J. Evans had 15 points for the Crusaders (4-7).

Missouri 94, William & Mary 56: Sixth man Michael Dixon scored a career-high 30 points and host No. 10 Missouri is off to its best start in two decades. Missouri (11-0) jumped to a 19-0 lead over the Tribe, which missed its first eight shots while committing five fouls and 10 turnovers and didn't score until nearly 12 minutes into the game. William & Mary (2-9) made just five first-half baskets. -- AP