South Carolina, ranked first, defeats Alabama to share the third consecutive SEC regular-season championship.

CBS News/Columbia, S.C. With a 72-44 victory over Alabama on Thursday night, Ashlyn Watkins recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds as No. 1 South Carolina secured a share of its third consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season title. This was coach Dawn Staley’s 600th career victory.

Without leading scorer and rebounder Kamilla Cardoso, who felt sore after Sunday’s victory over Georgia and started the game off, the Gamecocks (26-0, 13-0 SEC) dominated.

With their 44th league victory in the regular season and their 56th consecutive at home, South Carolina improved their SEC record. Bree Hall scored 13 points, while Tessa Johnson added 12.

Jessica Timmons scored 20 points to lead Alabama (20-8, 7-6). Holding Sarah Ashlee Barker to four points was 13 points below her average.

No. 2 Penn State 69, Ohio State 82

PA: STATE COLLEGE (AP) — With 20 points apiece from Jacy Sheldon, Cotie McMahon, and Celeste Taylor, Ohio State won its 14th straight game.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes (23-3, 14-1 Big Ten) led by as many as thirty points and never looked back.

The Lady Lions (16-11, 7-9), who have lost six straight, were led in scoring by Ashley Owusu with 22 points and contributed 10 apiece from Ali Brigham and Leilani Kapinus.

No. 17 SYRACUSE 45 DUEK 58

(AP) — SYRACUSE, N.Y. With 12 points from Kennedy Brown and 11 from Reigan Richardson, Duke (17-9, 9-6 ACC) ended Syracuse’s five-game winning streak.

Dyaisha Fair of Syracuse, who had 3,257 career points going into the game, scored 22 points on 7 of 25 shots, falling four points short of tying Brittney Griner for fifth place all-time. Additionally, it was her 22nd consecutive game this season in double figures.

Syracuse (22-5, 12-4) added 11 points from Georgia Woolley.

NO. 19 CLEMSON 47, NOTRE DAME 74

(AP) — SOUTH BEND, IN Maddy Westbeld recorded a double-double, Sonia Citron scored 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, and Notre Dame outplayed Clemson in the middle of the court.

After trailing by two points in the first quarter, the Irish took a 59-36 lead going into the fourth. Westbeld led Notre Dame (20-6, 10-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Ruby Whitehorn led Clemson (11-16, 4-11), which suffered its fourth straight loss, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.