seed

Hightower leaped high to rebound a missed Adams jumper, whirled and made a layup while being fouled to put the top seed ahead, 69-68, with 49 seconds left.

Cronin noted that his team was the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament that starts Wednesday but not among the conference’s seven nationally ranked teams.

As spring camp winds down this week, the seeds of such trust have indeed started to take root.

The Sharks were the No. 7 seed, with Diamond Ranch the No. 5 seed.

Boulter was playing in her first tournament since January's Australian Open because of a foot injury and received a first-round bye as the 25th seed.