More bad luck for Irish in easy win

Arike Ogunbowale scored 30 points and top-seeded Notre Dame beat No. 16 Cal State Northridge, 99-81, yesterday in the opener of the women’s NCAA tournament in South Bend, Ind.

NCAA WOMEN’S TOURNEY

Playing in the Spokane regional, the Irish suffered another injury as senior captain Kathryn Westbeld went down early in the game with a rolled left ankle and did not return.

There was no immediate word whether Westbeld would be ready for tomorrow’s game. Notre Dame played most of the season without four players who suffered seasonending ACL injuries.

Jessica Shepard scored 24 points, Marina Mabrey had 23 and Jackie Young 13 for the Irish (30-3) against the Matadors (19-16). In other Spokane Region games: Minnesota 89, Green Bay 77 — Kenisha Bell scored 24 of her 26 points in the second half to lead the No. 10 Golden Gophers (24-8) to victory over the No.7 Phoenix (29-4) in Eugene, Ore.

Texas A&M 89, Drake 76 — Freshman Chennedy Carter scored 26 points, powering the No.4 Aggies (25-9) to a victory over the No.13 Bulldogs (26-8) in College Station, Texas. Khaalia Hillsman added 22 to help send the Aggies to the second round against DePaul. Carter also had 11 assists and six steals.

DePaul 90, Oklahoma 79 — Amarah Coleman and Kelly Campbell each scored 17 points and the No. 5 Blue Demons (27-7) held off a second-half comeback by the No.12 Sooners (16-15) in College Station.

Albany region

Virginia 68, Cal 62 — Dominique Toussaint hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:08 to go and the No. 10 Cavaliers (19-13) held off the No. 7 Bears (21-11) in Columbia, S.C.

Lexington region

Louisville 74, Boise State 42 — Kylee Shook had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench to lead the top-seeded Cardinals (33-2) to a blowout of the No. 16 Broncos (23-10) in Louisville, Ky.

Marquette 84, Dayton 65 — Natisha Hiedeman scored a career-high 32 points, including 18 in the first quarter, and the No.8 Golden Eagles (24-9) rallied past the No.9 Flyers (23-7) in Louisville, Ky.

Tennessee 100, Liberty 60 — Freshman Rennia Davis scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in her NCAA debut as the No. 3 Vols (25-7) pulled away in the second half to beat the No. 14 Lady Flames (24-10) in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Lady Vols used an offensive outburst in the third quarter to win their NCAA opener for the ninth straight season and remain undefeated at home in NCAA play at 57-0.

Oregon 82, Western Kentucky 58 — Marie Gulich scored 21 of her 29 points in the second half and grabbed 15 rebounds as the No. 6 Beavers (24-7) beat the

No. 11 Lady Toppers (24-9) in Knoxville, Tenn.

Michigan 75, Northern Colorado 61 — In Waco, Texas, Hallie Thome scored 24 points, Katelynn Flaherty added 20 and the No.7 Wolverines (23-9) beat the No.10 Bears (26-7) in Waco, Texas.

Kansas City region

Maryland 77, Princeton 57 — Kaila Charles scored 20 points and the No. 5 Terrapins (26-7) beat the No. 12 Tigers (24-6) in Raleigh, N.C.

N.C. State 62, Elon 35 — Kiara Leslie scored 13 points and the No. 4 Wolfpack (25-8) beat the No. 13 Phoenix (25-8) in Raleigh, N.C.