Sunday. ... The Thunder shot 75 percent in the first quarter

Editors note: Charlie Creme, Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel each vote to determine espnWs national player of the week, which is awarded every week of the womens college basketball season.Everything else takes a backseat when a matchup between the nations No. 1 and No. 2 teams arrives.That includes one individual 50-point performance and another 44-point showing.Yes, Connecticut vs. Notre Dame earned top billing this past Wednesday, and when one player puts on a performance like UConns Gabby Williams did, in a game of that magnitude, in South Bend, she deserves top honors. Williams is the espnW national player of the week.Williams was the catalyst when the Huskies beat the Fighting Irish 72-61 for their 83rd straight win. Williams totaled 19 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals. The junior forward impacted the biggest game of the year in every way possible, from spearheading UConns pressure, to setting up teammates, to controlling the lane largely from the high post.Her performance Wednesday even elicited the rare December complement from coach Geno Auriemma, who referred to Williams game as magnificent.At 5-foot-11, Williams would be an undersized post player on any other team, but at UConn, she is a mismatch for bigger players because of her quickness, versatility and athleticism.That doesnt always translate to points. Williams had just six in Sundays win at Kansas State, but she led the Huskies with 10 rebounds and handed out five assists, all while battling with the Wildcats biggest and best player, 6-foot-5 Breanna Lewis.Williams jump in production (10.8 PPG and 7.7 RPG this season, from 8.8 PPG and 5.6 RPG in 2015-16) and pronounced increase in confidence in the Huskies system is a big reason why Connecticut has quickly gone from one of the contenders for the national title to the favorite to win a fifth straight.And ... we see you, Pac-12. Kristine Anigwe scored 50 against Sacramento State on Thursday, and Washingtons Kelsey Plum became the Pac-12s all-time leading scorer while scoring 30 and 44 points in her last two games.Also considered: Kristine Anigwe, California; Mehryn Kraker, Green Bay; Kelsey Plum, Washington; Katie Lou Samuelson, ConnecticutPrevious winners: Notre Dames Ogunbowale (Nov. 21) | Virginia Techs Hicks (Nov. 28) | Dukes Greenwell (Dec. 5) Stitched Flames Jerseys . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Flames Jerseys 2021 . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Wholesale Flames Jerseys . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Flames Jerseys 2020 . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. OKLAHOMA CITY -- As Russell Westbrook took off, he saw Clint Capela as a mere obstacle to victory rather than an athletic 6-foot-10 shot blocker.In the blink of an eye, Westbrook uncorked a vicious left-handed hammer dunk over Capela in the closing seconds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Houston Rockets 105-103 on Wednesday night.Oklahoma City led by three when the 6-3 Westbrook threw it down with 5.5 seconds left to put the Thunder up five.Westbrook said Capelas reputation -- he had already blocked three shots on the night and ranks among the leagues leaders -- didnt deter him.It dont matter, man, Westbrook said. Game on the line. If you get blocked, or you make a dunk -- its one or the other. Fortunately, it went in and it closed the game for us.Oklahoma City center Steven Adams, who isnt easily impressed, cracked a smile when asked about Westbrooks jam.Just happy its not me, he said. Thats pretty much like the only thing is `Thank goodness hes on my team. That was crazy. Honestly, he did a good job, Capela. Nice little bit of defense, honestly. Verticality, avoided the foul, and obviously, hes (Westbrook) just a really athletic dude. Just caught him.Westbrook finished with 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Victor Oladipo added season highs of 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who snapped a four-game losing streak.James Harden, the leagues assist leader and No. 4 scorer heading into the night, finished with 13 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. He made just 4 of 16 shots while being harassed by Andre Roberson.Dre did an amazing job, like hes been doing all season, Westbrook said. James is a tough player, obviously, and he (Roberson) did a great job of making him shoot over his length. He needs to get credit for what hes been doing defensively all year.Capela added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who went scoreless for more than six minutes in the fourth quarter to help the Thunder position themselves for the win.We didnt play well, Harden said. We didnt shoot the ball well, and we still had an opportunity to win.Oklahoma City led 65-63 at halftime as Westbrook had 20 points and Oladipo 17. Thhe shot 61 percent before the break.dddddddddddd The Rockets offense worked, despite just five points from Harden on 1-for-6 shooting.The Rockets started strong after the break, and a 14-5 binge put Houston up 77-70 and led to an Oklahoma City timeout. The Rockets stretched their lead to 11, but the Thunder pulled to 90-85 by the end of the period.Oladipos 3-pointer with just under three minutes to play tied the score at 100, then Robersons alley-oop dunk on a lob from Westbrook finally put the Thunder ahead.Westbrook made a free throw to extend Oklahoma Citys lead to three with 28 seconds remaining. Houston missed an opportunity when Harden and Trevor Ariza failed to connect while Ariza was open in the corner. That set up Westbrooks game-clinching dunk.I still wasnt able to make a couple of passes, Harden said. Normal game, just didnt make shots, especially down the stretch when we needed to. That was it.TIP-INSRockets: G Patrick Beverley, one of Oklahoma City fans most hated players, was out with a left knee irritation. He hasnt played this season. ... Eric Gordon shot 5 for 20 from the field and scored 13 points.Thunder: It was the second straight home game in which the Thunder faced a core member of its team that reached the 2012 NBA Finals. Serge Ibaka scored 31 points and made the game-winner for Orlando on Sunday. ... The Thunder shot 75 percent in the first quarter to lead 38-32. ... Oklahoma City made 13 of 14 free throws.STAT LINESOklahoma Citys starting guards, Westbrook and Oladipo, combined to make 21 of 38 shots. Houstons starting guards, Harden and Gordon, shot a combined 9 for 36.STAR POWEROklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who is starting to gain traction as a Heisman candidate, attended the game. He has 68 catches this season for 1,254 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games. The eighth-ranked Sooners will play at No. 10 West Virginia on Saturday.UP NEXTRockets: Host Portland on Thursday night.Thunder: Host Brooklyn on Friday night.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP ' ' '