Great performances

#3 Baylor’s Niya Johnson tallied a school-record 19 assists in the team’s105-46 thrashing of McNeese State. The Bears are 10-0.

Alaina Coates delivered a triple-double for #2 South Carolina in their 86-37 romp over Winthrop. She had 29 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks. The Gamecocks are 9-0.

Sophomore Victoria Vivians lead #9 Mississippi State over Louisiana Tech, 93-63, with 36 points. That included seven three-point shots.

#5 Texas 77, #14 Stanford 69……Empress Davenport had a personal-best 23 points for the Longhorns, who are 8-0.

#20 UCLA 86, Michigan 77……Nirra Fields lead the Bruins with 22 points and Monique Billings added a career-high 20, plus 11 boards.

#21 South Florida 61, Chattanooga 33……Alisia Jenkins set a career rebounds school record for the Bulls.

#25 Michigan State 82, Oakland 62……Jasmine Hines put up a career-high 21 points for the Spartans.

#8 Kentucky 68, Middle Tennessee 52……the Wildcats are 9-0.

#12 Northwestern 81, Loyola Chicago 72……those Wildcats are 9-0 as well.

More results:

USC pounded Long Beach State, 69-43. The Trojans are 8-0.

St. John’s stomped UCF, 70-42.

Elon edged NC State, 69-66.

Purdue handled Ball State, 73-63.

Louisville topped IUPUI, 70-61.

James Madison hammered Richmond, 73-47.

George Washington took down Villanova, 78-70.

Tulsa defeated UALR, 74-63.

All scores.

One of the numerous interesting things about this season so far is that many teams that have been traditionally solid are struggling: Louisville, Chattanooga, North Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, UALR, Penn State, just to name a few.

Connecticut and South Carolina in the Final Four this year seems a foregone conclusion. The other two spots? Wide open.

Team news:

Ohio State assistant coach Mark Mitchell and players Shayla Cooper and Chelsea Mitchell were suspended for today’s game against North Carolina AT&T for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Player news:

Moriah Mack is set to return for New Mexico State.

Freshman Hallie Thome is finding her role at Michigan.

Freshman guard Riley Rose has left Missouri State.