The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Buffalo stuns FSU, heads to Sweet 16
ALBANY REGIONAL
NO. 11 BUFFALO 86, NO. 3 FLORIDA STATE 65: At Tallahassee, Fla., Cierra Dillard scored 22 points and 11th-seeded Buffalo shocked No. 3 seed Florida State Monday night to advance to the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
The Bulls, who were one of the last four to earn an at-large berth in the 64team field, shot 47.4 percent from the field and went 24 of 26 from the foul line. They also held the Seminoles to 3 of 25 on 3-pointers and 33.8 percent from the field.
Buffalo (29-5) won’t have far to go for the regional semifinal as it will face defending champion and second-seeded South Carolina on Saturday in Albany, New York.
It is the first time that in eight games that Florida State (26-7) has dropped an NCAA Tournament contest when it has been the host.
NO. 5 DUKE 66, NO. 4 GEORGIA 40: At Athens, Ga., Leaonna Odom scored 16 points and fifth seed Duke’s defense was dominant, holding Georgia to two second-quarter points.
Lexie Brown and Erin Mathias each had 14 points for Duke (24-8), which will play UConn on Saturday.
Georgia (26-7) made only 1 of 19 shots in the second period. The Lady Bulldogs set season lows for fewest points in a period and game and lowest field-goal percentage (24.0) in a game.
SPOKANE REGIONAL
NO. 11 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 95, NO. 3 OHIO STATE 78: At Columbus, Ohio, Presley Hudson scored 28 points and Central Michigan stunned Ohio State to earn the school’s first trip to the Sweet 16.
Cassie Breen threw the ball high in the air as the clock wound down and the joyous Central Michigan players jumped, screamed and hugged as they celebrated the biggest win in school history.
The Chippewas had won their first tournament game ever in Saturday’s firstround upset of No. 6 Louisiana State. With the upset of Ohio State, they advance to face No. 2 Oregon in Spokane, Wash., on Saturday.
KANSAS CITY REGIONAL
NO. 1 MISSISSIPPI STATE 71, NO. 9 OKLAHOMA STATE 56: At Starkville, Miss., Victoria Vivians scored 23 points, Teaira McCowan added 21 points and 18 rebounds and Mississippi State earned a hard-fought win.
Top-seeded Mississippi State (34-1) also got 17 points from Morgan William, who hit several crucial baskets throughout the game. McCowan scored 17 of her 21 points in the second half and shot 8 of 12 from the field.
NO. 3 UCLA 86, NO. 11 CREIGHTON 64: At Los Angeles, Jordin Canada scored 21 points and Japreece Dean added 16 points to lead third-seeded UCLA.
NO. 2 TEXAS 85, NO. 7 ARIZONA STATE 65: At Austin, Texas, Lashann Higgs scored 19 points and Brooke McCarty scored 15 as Texas booked its fourth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16.
LEXINGTON REGIONAL
NO. 4 STANFORD 90, NO. 12 FLORIDA GULF COAST 70: At Stanford, Calif., Alanna Smith scored 28 points with four 3-pointers, Brittany McPhee added 17 points and nine rebounds and Stanford is headed back to the Lexington Regional for a third straight March.