Top seed South Carolina rolls
Chloe Kitts tied her career high with 21 points on 9-of-9 shooting as No. 1 overall seed South Carolina easily overcame the absence of starters Kamilla Cardoso and Bree Hall to beat No. 16 seed Presbyterian 91-39 in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday.
The Gamecocks (33-0) moved five wins away from the 10th perfect championship season by overwhelming the Blue Hose (21-15) of the Big South Conference for a second time this season. Next comes another rematch against No. 8 seed North Carolina on Sunday.
Kitts also had a gamehigh 13 rebounds for her fifth double double this season. Te-hina Paopao had 18 points and freshman Milaysia Fulwiley scored 17 for South Carolina..
South Carolina played without Cardoso, their leading scorer, while she served a one-game suspension for her ejection for fighting last time out at the SEC Tournament finals on March 10.
OREGON STATE 73,
EASTERN WASHINGTON 51
Raegan Beers had 19 points and nine rebounds before she was hurt at the end of the third quarter and third-seeded Oregon State advanced to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a victory over No. 14 Eastern Washington.
NORTH CAROLINA 59,
MICHIGAN STATE 56
Deja Kelly had 13 points and No. 8 seed North Carolina held off a late run by No. 9 seed Michigan State. LSU 70, RICE 60
Angel Reese had 10 points and 19 rebounds, and third-seeded LSU overcame a feisty performance by No. 14 seed Rice. KANSAS STATE 78,
PORTLAND 65
Gabby Gregory had 22 points and Ayoka Lee scored 21 to lead Kansas State. MIDDLE TENNESSEE 71,
LOUISVILLE 69
Savannah Wheeler scored 20 of her 22 points in the second half, and No. 11 seed Middle Tennessee overcame an 18-point, second quarter deficit to defeat sixth-seeded Louisville.
OHIO STATE 80, MAINE 57
Jacy Sheldon had 19 points and three other Ohio State players scored in double figures as the Buckeyes ran away from Maine. VIRGINIA TECH 92,
MARSHALL 49
Matilda Ekh scored 21 points to lead No. 13 Virginia Tech to a victory over Marshall.
BAYLOR 80, VANDERBILT 63
Bella Fontleroy scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lift fifth-seeded Baylor to a victory over No. 12 Vanderbil.
DUKE 72, RICHMOND 61
Reigan Richardson scored 25 points and had seven rebounds as Duke rallied in the second half to overtake Richmond.
TEXAS 82, DREXEL 42
Shaylee Gonzales scored 21 points, Taylor Jones added 18 and No. 1 seed Texas beat No. 16 Drexel.
ALABAMA 82,
FLORIDA STATE 74
Freshman Essence Cody had season highs with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 8 seed Alabama defeated No. 9 Florida State. IOWA STATE 93,
MARYLAND 86
Freshman Audi Crooks scored a career-high 40 points on 18-for-20 shooting, and No. 7-seed Iowa State hit all the big shots in the second half to rally from 20 points down and beat 10thseeded Maryland.