Josh Hoover completed a record-setting season by passing for 252 yards and four touchdowns and TCU defeated Louisiana 34-3 in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday in Albuquerque. Hoover completed 20 of 32 passes and finished the season with 3,949 passing yards, 48 more than Trevone Boykin's previous single-season school record. The Horned Frogs (9-4), who rolled to a 27-0 halftime lead and coasted, won their fourth straight game and for the sixth time in their last seven games. Ben Wooldridge returned from a three-game absence due to a shoulder injury and completed 7 of 20 passes for 61 yards with an interception for the Ragin' Cajuns (10-4), who lost their second consecutive game after a 31-3 defeat to Marshall in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game on Dec. 7 in Lafayette, La. TCU outgained Louisiana 367 yards to 209 and finished with 257 passing yards compared to 95 for the Cajuns. On the Frogs' fourth offensive play of the third quarter, Hoover threw his fourth touchdown pass, a 20-yarder to Blake Nowell that expanded the lead to 34-0 at the end of the period. Louisiana avoided a shutout when Kenneth Almendares kicked a 24-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. TCU received the opening kickoff and, 11 plays later, Hoover threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to DJ Rogers. On the ensuing possession, Wooldridge drove the Cajuns to the Frogs 37, but Almendares' 54-yard field-goal attempt hit the right upright and bounced away. It was just the third missed field goal in 30 attempts this season for the Lou Groza Award winner. Hoover threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Eric McAlister on fourth down to increase the lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. McAlister was Hoover's most frequent target, finishing with eight receptions for 87 yards. Kyle Lemmermann kicked field goals from 45 and 22 yards and Hoover threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to JP Richardson on fourth-and-2 to expand the lead to 27-0 at halftime. --Field Level Media
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Kaylene Smikle's 16 points and Shyanne Sellers' 15 points helped No. 10 Maryland defeat George Mason 66-56 on Saturday in a tight game in the Navy Classic at Annapolis, Md. Saylor Poffenbarger added 10 points off the bench for Maryland (7-0). George Mason (6-1), on the strength of an 18-7 scoring edge in the third quarter, pulled ahead 45-44 going to the fourth. Sellers scored with five minutes left to break a 51-51 tie and the Terrapins led the rest of the way. Kennedy Harris led the Patriots, who shot 31.5 percent from the field and had 25 offensive rebounds, with 26 points. Louis Volker had 14 points off the bench. No. 4 South Carolina 99, Purdue 51 MiLaysia Fulwiley's 14 points led five Gamecocks reserves in double figures in an easy win over the Boilermakers at the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla. Ashlyn Watkins and Tessa Johnson each had 13 points off the bench for South Carolina, while starters Chloe Kitts and Bree Hall both posted 12 points. Joyce Edwards (11) and Maddy McDaniel (10) also reached double figures. South Carolina (7-1), which led 53-18 at halftime, had a 56-26 rebounding advantage. Destini Lombard racked up 24 points, aided by four 3-pointers, for Purdue (4-3), which shot 39.6 percent from the field. No. 15 Iowa State 75, Middle Tennessee 59 Audi Crooks posted 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting as the Cyclones routed the Blue Raiders and left the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla., on a high. Addy Brown had 12 points for Iowa State (6-2), which shot 54.7 percent from the floor following a 40-point loss to No. 4 South Carolina. The Cyclones held a fifth opponent under the 60-point mark. Ta'Mia Scott scored 24 points, including 8-for-8 on free throws, for Middle Tennessee (6-2). Anastasiia Boldyreva and Jalynn Gregory each added 14 points for the Blue Raiders, who were 19-of-20 at the foul line. No. 18 Mississippi 89, Alabama State 24 Reserve Sira Thienou's 16 points contributed to the romp for the host Rebels over the Lady Hornets at Oxford, Miss. Christeen Iwuala and Starr Jacobs each had 12 points and Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 points for Ole Miss, which benefited from 33 turnovers by Alabama State. The Rebels (5-2) led 57-10 at halftime. Kaitlyn Bryant's seven points off the bench were tops for Alabama State (2-5), which shot 19 percent from the field. No. 24 Louisville 79, Colorado 71 Tajianna Roberts' go-ahead 3-point basket with less than 7 1/2 minutes remaining ignited a 16-0 run as the Cardinals picked up a road victory over the Buffaloes at Boulder, Colo. Jayda Curry and Nyla Harris each tallied 14 points, Roberts finished with 13 and Izela Arenas had 11 for Louisville (5-2). Frida Formann led Colorado (6-2) with 25 points. Jade Masogayo had 12 points and Nyamer Diew added 10 points. Kindyll Wetta had 10 assists. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now