Pondexter’s 40 Power Rutgers

Cappie Pondexter had the fifth-highest scoring performance in Rutgers history and the 10th-ranked Scarlet Knights needed every point.

Pondexter scored a career-high 40 points, including a clutch jumper with eight seconds left, and Rutgers rallied to beat South Florida, 66-65, on Wednesday night in a Big East Conference game at Tampa, Fla.

Pondexter’s jumper gave the Scarlet Knights a 66-64 lead. South Florida’s Shantia Grace converted one of two free throws in the final seconds and the Bulls got the ball back after Pondexter missed a free throw, but Jessica Dickson missed a desperation heave at the buzzer.

Rutgers (11-2, 3-0) has won 11 straight conference games dating to Feb. 6, 2005.

Dickson had a career-high 37 points for South Florida (11-5, 1-2), which in its last 11 games has gone 1-4 against teams ranked in the top 25.

No. 2 Duke 67, Georgia Tech 59 -- Wanisha Smith scored 13 points and the Blue Devils (15-0, 4-0) held off the Yellow Jackets (11-4, 0-3) in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Atlanta.

No. 5 Baylor 57, Oklahoma State 26 -- Jessica Morrow scored 11 points to lead the Bears (12-1, 2-1) over the Cowboys (6-8, 0-3) in a Big 12 Conference game at Waco, Texas.

Texas Christian 76, No. 18 New Mexico 67 -- Adrianne Ross scored 24 points to lead the Horned Frogs (7-6, 1-1) over the Lobos (12-4, 2-1) in a Mountain West Conference game at Fort Worth.

George Washington 58, No. 19 Temple 41 -- Jazmine Adair scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the Colonials (10-4, 3-0) over the Owls (10-4, 2-1) in an Atlantic 10 game at Washington.

No. 24 Missouri 64, Nebraska 58 -- Carlynn Savant scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half and the Tigers (13-2, 3-0) defeated the Cornhuskers (10-4, 2-1) in a Big 12 game at Lincoln, Neb.