Connecticut 70, Boston Col. 49

DAYTON, Ohio, March 30 (UPI) -- Diana Taurasi, one of the leading stars in women's basketball, scored 26 points Sunday to send top-seeded Connecticut cruising into the East Region final of the NCAA Tournament with a 70-49 blasting of Boston College.

Taurasi, who is averaging 27 points per game in the tournament, also collected 12 rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot.

The defending champion Huskies (34-1) will play Purdue in the regional final Tuesday night.

They used a 14-2 run to take a 44-25 halftime lead and Boston College (22-9) came no closer than 17 points in the second half.

Jessica Moore delivered 17 points and freshman Barbara Moore finished with six rebounds and 14 points for Connecticut, which shot 51 percent from the field.

Ann Strother and Maria Conlon combined to dish out eight of the Huskies 17 assists.

Jessalyn Deveny scored 14 points and pulled down five rebounds for the Eagles, who were held to just 32 percent shooting from the field. Clare Droesch scored 11 points and Becky Gottstein added 10 for Boston College.

Amber Jacobs, who provided late-game heroics in Boston College's victories over Old Dominion and Vanderbilt, made just two of 13 from the field.