Georgia Tech rallies to avoid upset
SAN ANTONIO — Lorela Cubaj recovered from a scary fall to score 14 points, including the go-ahead free throws in overtime, and fifth-seeded Georgia Tech came back from a 17-point halftime deficit to turn back 12-seed Stephen F. Austin 54-52 at the women’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
NO. 1 UCONN 102, NO. 16 HIGH POINT 59
SAN ANTONIO — UConn did just fine without coach Geno Auriemma, with Paige Bueckers scoring 24 points to lead the Huskies to a win over High Point in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Auriemma is recovering from the coronavirus and missed the opener. Associate head coach Chris Dailey filled in for the Hall of Famer, who is also going to miss the second-round game against Syracuse on Tuesday.
NO. 7 VIRGINIA TECH 70 NO. MARQUETTE 63
Elizabeth Kitley had 23 points and Virginia Tech built a big lead and held on for a win over Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Golden Eagles used a 14-2 run to cut it to 3 with 39 seconds to go. Kitley missed a jump shot on the next possession but Marquette got the rebound and Virginia Tech made two free throws before a miss on the other end. Azana Baines added two more free throws with 3 seconds left to secure the victory.
NO. 8 OREGON ST. 83, NO. 9 FLORIDA ST. 59
Aleah Goodman scored 24 points with five rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers, Taylor Jones added 18 points and eight boards, and Oregon State beat Florida State.
NO. 4 W. VIRGINIA 77, NO. 13 LEHIGH 53
Kysre Gondrezick scored 26 points, Esmery Martinez had a double-double and West Virginia used a couple of big runs to race past Lehigh.
The Mountaineers (22-6), the four-seed in the Hemisfair Region, closed the third quarter with 16 straight points to ensure a meeting with fifth-seeded Georgia Tech.
NO. 8 SYRACUSE 72, NO. 9 S. DAKOTA ST. 55
Emily Engstler scored 18 points and made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Syracuse pulled away from South Dakota State for a first-round win in the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse led 50-48 to open the fourth quarter before Englstler struck from long range on consecutive baskets for the Orange and Syracuse slowly pulled away from there. Her third from long range took two bounces on the rim before falling in to put Syracuse ahead 66-52 with 3:19 to play.
NO. 1 S. CAROLINA 79, NO. 16 MERCER 53
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley got her 500th career victory when Aliyah Boston and the Gamecocks beat Mercer in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Boston had 20 points and 18 rebounds for South Carolina, which grabbed the lead for good when it closed the first half with a 16-5 run.
NO. 1 NC STATE 79, NO. 16 NC A&T 58
Jada Boyd scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half to help North Carolina State overcome a slow start and coast to a win over NC A&T.
N.C. State is making its fourth straight tournament appearance and 26th overall, but earned a No. 1 seed for the first time. The Wolfpack will face eighth-seeded South Florida in the second round.
BAYLOR 101, JACKSON ST. 52
Moon Ursin scored a career-high 24 points, All-American NaLyssa Smith had a double-double and Baylor had no problem in its NCAA Tournament opener, cruising to a win over Jackson State.
NO. 3 TENNESSEE 87, NO. 14 M. TENNESSEE 62
Rennia Davis scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Tennessee used a dominant second half to beat Middle Tennessee.
NO. 6 MICHIGAN 87,
NO. 11 FLORIDA GULF COAST 66
Leigha Brown scored 28 points, including 17 straight for Michigan at one point, and the Wolverines beat Florida Gulf Coast in a first-round game.
Michigan (15-5) will play Tennessee in the second round on Tuesday. It’s the third straight NCAAs that the Wolverines have reached the second round.
The win snapped the Eagles’ 25-game winning streak which was the second longest in the nation, trailing only California Baptist’s 27-game run.