ICYMI: A record win highlights women’s hoops this week

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NEW YORK (AP) — A record win, another triple-double and a milestone point highlighted the week in women’s basketball.

Division II Ashland won its 57th consecutive game on Saturday to tie the longest winning streak regardless of gender at that level. The No. 1 team in Division II matched the mark set by the Winona State men from Jan. 13, 2006, to March 22, 2007. The Eagles play at Wayne State on Thursday for a chance at the all-time mark. Ashland broke the women’s D-II record on Jan. 6 with its 52nd consecutive win. UConn holds the Division I record with 111 consecutive wins.

While the Ohio school is poised to break the mark this week, Ohio State star Kelsey Mitchell set another scoring record, breaking the all-time mark for the Big Ten.

Mitchell passed former Minnesota star Rachel Banham’s mark of 3,093 points on Saturday. Mitchell was thrilled that the record came in a win over Michigan State and helped the Buckeyes snap a three-game losing streak.

“Sounds normal to me right now,” said Mitchell, who now has 3,098 points. “We just got off a three-game losing streak, so we’re just going to take this win. Everything I have been through, everything this team has been through (injuries, transfers). To want to be part of the program like this that has been through so much, you can’t do anything but smile about everything.”

Mitchell is now seventh all-time on the scoring list, 24 points out of fourth. Kelsey Plum holds the career record with 3,527 points.

Another talented guard improved her own NCAA record on Sunday as Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu notched her ninth career triple-double in a win over Utah. The sophomore star had 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in the 84-68 victory.

“I decided to do everything that I possibly could in order for us to win,” Ionescu said. “This road trip isn’t easy, so we needed to get this win. This is a key win for us.”

Other tidbits from the week:

SEARCHING FOR 900: Chattanooga coach Jim Foster is still one win short of 900. His team had a chance Saturday to get him the milestone win, but fell to a very talented Mercer team. That 21-point loss ended a 53-game homecourt winning streak against conference opponents. Chattanooga’s next two games are on the road against Western Carolina on Thursday and UNC Greensboro on Saturday.

POLL WATCH: The Pac-12 has had a rotation of teams coming in and out of the poll and Stanford looks to re-enter the Top 25 this week after beating Arizona State. The 25th-ranked Sun Devils might stay in the poll as they beat No. 23 Cal on Sunday.

WINLESS NO MORE: Mississippi Valley State, Iona and Air Force all earned their first victories of the season this week, leaving Chicago State as the only team without a victory. Chicago State last won on Feb. 4, 2016.

TIP-INS: Duke’s Lexie Brown became just the third NCAA Power Five Conference player to register over 1,800 points, 200 3-pointers, 500 assists and 300 steals this week. She owns 1,896 points, 243 3-pointers, 529 assists and 305 steals over her career at Duke and Maryland. She joined only Niesa Johnson (Alabama) and Odyssey Sims (Baylor). … Fordham coach Stephanie Gaitley earned her 600th career win Thursday in a victory over St. Bonaventure.

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FILE – In this Nov. 10, 2017, file photo, Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell, front left, drives to the basket on Stanford’s Marta Sniezek, right, during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio. Mitchell became the Big Ten’s all-time scoring leader this weekend against Michigan State, passing Minnesota’s Rachel Banham who scored 3,093 points. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/01/web1_119738157-24e7ddb503724ea6ba6b0179649ba886.jpgFILE – In this Nov. 10, 2017, file photo, Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell, front left, drives to the basket on Stanford’s Marta Sniezek, right, during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio. Mitchell became the Big Ten’s all-time scoring leader this weekend against Michigan State, passing Minnesota’s Rachel Banham who scored 3,093 points. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

FLE – In this Jan. 12, 2018, file photo, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu celebrates the first of her four 3-pointers against Arizona during an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore. Ionescu increased her NCAA record with her ninth career triple-double in a win over Utah on Sunday, Jan. 29. (Brian Davies/The Register-Guard via AP, File)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/01/web1_119738157-e9e636ec442d414b8a6e0a2410a559ce.jpgFLE – In this Jan. 12, 2018, file photo, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu celebrates the first of her four 3-pointers against Arizona during an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore. Ionescu increased her NCAA record with her ninth career triple-double in a win over Utah on Sunday, Jan. 29. (Brian Davies/The Register-Guard via AP, File)

By Doug Feinberg

AP Basketball Writer

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