BIG EAST

No. 3 Connecticut (26-2) advanced to today’s tournament semifinals with a 96-53 win over Boston College (14-15) at Storrs, Conn., just as a major snowstorm began sweeping into the region. Gov. John G. Rowland has already called on schools and businesses to shut down and ordered a tractor-trailer ban on state highways--raising the prospect of the semifinals being played in a near-empty Gampel Pavilion.

Freshman Diana Taurasi, a former Chino Don Lugo High standout, scored 22 points for Connecticut, which will play No. 9 Rutgers (22-6), a 69-58 winner over Providence (11-17).

No. 2 Notre Dame also advanced to today’s semifinal with an 89-33 victory over Georgetown (16-14). The Fighting Irish (27-1) will play Virginia Tech (21-7), which upset No. 23 Villanova, 73-67. The Wildcats fell to 21-8.

BIG TEN

Cara Consuegra made seven free throws in the final 37 seconds as No. 23 Iowa (20-9) upset No. 8 Purdue, 75-70, in the tournament title game at Grand Rapids, Mich. The Boilermakers fell to 26-6.

SOUTHEASTERN

Kelly Miller made a jumper with 0.8 seconds left as No. 6 Georgia (26-5) won its first tournament title since 1986 with a 62-60 victory over No. 15 Vanderbilt (21-9) at Memphis, Tenn.

OTHER TOURNAMENTS

Atlantic Coast--Carisse Moody had 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead No. 21 North Carolina State (20-9) to the tournament semifinals with a 65-52 victory against No. 25 Clemson (20-9) at Greensboro, N.C.

The Wolfpack will play No. 4 Duke (27-3), a 72-56 winner over Florida State (18-11).

Atlantic 10--Taru Tuukkanen scored 22 points as No. 12 Xavier (27-2) advanced to its third consecutive conference championship game with an 80-71 victory against Dayton (16-13) at Philadelphia. George Washington (22-8) was a 74-59 winner over Temple (19-10) in the other semifinal.