No. 5 Texas trips No. 10 Georgia

? It was fitting that the play that keyed fifth-ranked Texas’ win over No. 10 Georgia came at the defensive end for the Longhorns.

Tiffany Jackson got the first of four steals that led to easy baskets during a 20-7 run that lifted the Longhorns to a 71-58 victory Saturday.

“We really turned the defensive tempo up after halftime,” Texas coach Jody Conradt said. “We’re learning that even when we don’t shoot the ball well, there’s other ways to win.”

The Longhorns (10-1) overcame 4-for-20 shooting to start the game for their 25th straight home victory.

Texas led 49-47 when Jackson triggered the run with a steal and pass to Nina Norman for a layup. Kala Bowers followed with a steal and a coast-to-coast layup that she flipped in over her head while being closely guarded by Sherril Baker, then Texas had two straight steals that led to layups and a 69-54 lead with 1:30 remaining.

“During a timeout I asked who the catalyst was going to be, and Kala answered with that play,” Conradt said.

Heather Schreiber scored 25 points and added nine rebounds, and Stacy Stephens had 11 points and 11 for Texas.

The top scorers for Georgia (7-2), Kara Braxton and Christi Thomas, were on the bench with four fouls each during much of the Texas run. Thomas led Georgia with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Jamie Carey had 15 points for Texas.

Georgia led 37-34 at halftime but was held to 22 percent from the field after that.

“Texas played at a much higher level in the second half,” Georgia coach Andy Landers said.

Texas forced 16 turnovers and had seven steals.

No. 14 Colorado 69,

USC 67

Los Angeles — Tera Bjorklund scored 19 points, Emily Waner had 15, and Colorado overcame a 12-point halftime deficit.

Waner made six of seven shots and Bjorklund made eight of 15. Randie Wirt added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Buffs (8-1).

Colorado took the lead on a three-pointer by Waner with 8:35 left. Waner then had a steal and a layup to give Colorado a 55-51 lead with 7:18 left. The Buffs never trailed again, leading by as many as seven down the stretch.

USC (3-4) made a run in the final minute. Ebony Hoffman scored after an offensive rebound to the Trojans to 67-65 with 45 seconds to play.

Hoffman also made two free throws with 18 seconds left to make it 68-67.

Hoffman and Eshaya Murphy led USC with 13 points apiece.

Colorado’s Kate Fagan missed one of two free throws with 12 seconds left, but Trojans missed a shot at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime.

Baylor 103,

UPR-Mayaguez 25

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Sophia Young scored 17 points and every Baylor player scored as the Bears got the second-largest margin of victory in school history at the San Juan Shootout.

The only bigger win for Baylor (8-1) was a 129-36 defeat of Texas-Pan American during the 1976-77 season.