Top-seeded South Carolina coasts past Presbyterian
MTSU scores the lone upset of the first day
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 game-high 13 rebounds for her fifth double double this season. Te-Hina Paopao had 18 points and freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 17 for South Carolina, which moved to 12-0 in NCAA openers under coach Dawn Staley.
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.
Albany Regional 1
OREGON STATE 73, EASTERN WASHINGTON 51:
In Corvallis, Ore., 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 with a victory over No. 14 Eastern Washington.
Oregon State (25-7) will play the winner of Friday’s late game between sixth-seeded Nebraska and No. 11 Texas A&M.
Beers, who was averaging 17.7 points an 10.4 rebounds this season, fell to the court as time expired in the third quarter, clutching her right ankle and crying in pain. The 6-foot-4 forward was able to stand on her own and limped to the locker room.
Dominika Paurova added 17 points for the Beavers. Jamie Loera had 21 points for the Eagles (29-6).
NORTH CAROLINA 59, MICHIGAN STATE 56:
In Columbia, S.C., Deja Kelly had 13 points and No. 8 seed North Carolina held off a late run by No. 9 seed Michigan State.
Maria Gakdeng had 17 points and 10 rebounds while Alyssa Ustby had 16 points and 17 rebounds, no grab bigger than pulling down Kelly’s final free throw miss with 3.2 seconds left as the clock ran out.
It looked like the Tar Heels (20-12) had this sewn up, leading 54-42 with 3:22 to go. But the Spartans (22-9) had a final rally and cut things to 57-56 on Theryn Hallock’s 3-pointer from the right corner with 5.4 seconds to go.But that was as close as they got.
Albany Regional 2 LSU 70, RICE 60:
In Baton Rouge, La., Angel Reese had 10 points and 19 rebounds, and third-seeded LSU overcame a feisty performance by No. 14 seed Rice for a victory.
Aneesah Morrow added 15 points, while Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams each scored 14 for the defending national champion Tigers (29-5), who had a hard time putting the away the Owls (19-15).
Rice surprisingly got into the NCAA Tournament by winning four straight in the American Athletic tournament after having lost its last five regular season games. Destiny Jackson scored 15 and Malia Fisher had 13 points and three steals for Rice.
KANSAS STATE 78, PORTLAND 65:
In Manhattan, Kan., Gabby Gregory had 22 points and Ayoka Lee scored 21 to lead Kansas State to a win over Portland.
The fourth-seeded Wildcats built a big first-half lead and then kept the No. 13 seed Pilots at an arm’s reach the rest of the game. K-State will face Colorado on Sunday in the second round.
Serena Sundell added 16 points for Kansas State (26-7). Portland (21-13) was led by Maisie Burnham, who had 21 points.
In Manhattan, Kan., Aaronette Vonleh had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead fifth-seeded Colorado to a victory over 12th-seed Drake.
Colorado (23-9) also got 16 points from Jaylyn Sherrod and Kindyll Wetta. Drake (29-6) got 24 points from Katie Dinnebier.
COLORADO 86, DRAKE 72: MIDDLE TENNESSEE 71, LOUISVILLE 69:
In Baton Rouge, 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.
Jalynn Gregory scored 24 for MTSU (30-4), which won its 20th straight game. The Blue Raiders matched the third largest comeback in the opening rounds in tournament history adn will play Sunday against No. 3 seed LSU.
Olivia Cochran had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Louisville (24-10).
Portland Regional 3 OHIO STATE 80, MAINE 57:
In Columbus, Ohio, Jacy Sheldon had 19 points and three other Ohio State players scored in double figures as the Buckeyes ran away from Maine.
The bigger and faster Buckeyes (26-5) swarmed Maine (24-10) with a stifling press, forcing 22 turnovers. Second-seeded Ohio State advances to play Duke on Sunday.
Anne Simon led Maine with 25 points.
VIRGINIA TECH 92, MARSHALL 49:
In Blacksburg, Va., Matilda Ekh scored 21 points to lead Virginia Tech to a victory over Marshall.
The Hokies won without star center Elizabeth Kitley, who is out for the tournament with a torn ACL. Ekh connected on 6 of 9 from the floor and hit five 3-pointers for the Hokies (25-7), who set a school record by winning their 26th consecutive game at Cassell Coliseum.
Abby Beeman scored 12 points for Marshall (26-7).
BAYLOR 80, VANDERBILT 63:
In Blacksburg, Bella Fontleroy scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lift fifth-seeded Baylor to a victory over No. 12 Vanderbilt.
Fontleroy hit 6 of 12, including four 3-pointers, for the Bears (257), who broke open a close game at halftime with a dominating third quarter. Iyana Moore led the Commodores (23-10) with 15 point.
In Columbus, Ohio, Reigan Richardson scored 25 points and had seven rebounds as Duke rallied in the second half to overtake
DUKE 72, RICHMOND 61:
Richmond.
No. 7 seed Duke (21-11) advances to play Ohio State on Sunday. The Blue Devils battled back from a nine-point deficit at halftime.
Grace Townsend led Richmond (29-6) with 18 points,
Portland Regional 4 TEXAS 82, DREXEL 42:
In Austin, Texas, Shaylee Gonzales scored 21 points, Taylor Jones added 18 and No. 1 seed Texas beat No. 16 Drexel.
Drexel (19-15) had only one starter taller than 6 feet — 6-2 Hedda Staatman. Texas (31-4), rotating four post players who are between 6-1 and 6-4 most of the game, outscored Drexel 44-18 in the paint.
Amaris Baker led Drexel with 10 points.
ALABAMA 82, FLORIDA STATE 74:
In Austin, freshman Essence Cody had season highs with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 8 seed Alabama defeated No. 9 Florida State.
Working inside, the 6-foot-4 Cody more than doubled her average of eight points a game. She also blocked four shots for Alabama (24-9).
Alabama, which shot 5 of 6 from the foul line in the final 44 seconds, will face No. 1 seed Texas on Sunday.
Ta’Niya Latson led Florida State (23-11) with 25 points and five assists.
IOWA STATE 93, MARYLAND 86:
In Stanford, Calif., freshman Audi Crooks scored a career-high 40 points on 18-for-20 shooting in her sensational NCAA Tournament debut, and No. 7-seed Iowa State hit all the big shots in the second half to rally from 20 points down and beat 10th-seeded Maryland.
The 20-point comeback marked the second-largest all-time in an NCAA Tournament game trailing only Texas A&M overcoming a 21-point deficit to beat Penn in 2017.
Emily Ryan knocked down a key 3-pointer with 6:06 remaining and finished with 18 points while dishing out 14 assists as Iowa State (21-11) kept pounding the ball inside to the ever-reliable Crooks, who had had 12 rebounds against Maryland (19-14).