HOOPS: Monmouth women score 3 at half
Tricia Liston scored 15 points for No. 4 Duke, and Monmouth tied a Division I record with three points in the first half of a 73-32 rout yesterday. The Hawks managed just one field goal in the opening 20 minutes against the Blue Devils (11-0), trailing 29-3.
Monmouth (3-8) matched the NCAA’s halftime scoring mark set in 2003 by Savannah State against Florida State and equaled by Tennessee State two years ago against Georgia Tech.
* In Knoxville, Tenn., No. 13 Tennessee used a strong defensive performance and balanced scoring to defeat Rutgers 66-47. The victory was the 1,200th in Tennessee’s program history, an NCAA best. It was also the ninth consecutive win over Rutgers for the Lady Volunteers (9-3). The Scarlet Knights fell to 8-4.
Rockets first-round pick Royce White refused his assignment to Houston’s D-League affiliate, yet another setback to his return to the court. White, the 16th overall pick in the June draft, has spent most of the season on Houston’s inactive list while he and the team figure out how to handle his anxiety disorder and overall mental health.
SOCCER: Lampard sparks Chelsea comeback
Frank Lampard scored twice in a 2-1 victory at Everton, boosting Chelsea’s hopes of catching Manchester United and Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
A fourth straight win kept Chelsea four points behind second-place Manchester City with a game in hand going into the new year. United is in first place by seven points
TRACK: Richardson wins again
In Kearns, Utah, Heather Richardson won her third title in three days at the U.S. Long Track Championships, setting a national record in winning the 1,500 meters. Brian Hansen won the men’s race.
Richardson’s time of 1 minute, 53.84 seconds at the Utah Olympic Oval lowered the old mark of 1:54.19 set by former Olympian Jennifer Rodriguez in 2009.