Gamecocks create big problems for Dolphins
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Alaina Coates had 22 points and 10 rebounds, A’ja Wilson added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 1 seed South Carolina ran past first- time NCAA tournament participant Jacksonville 77-41 on Friday night.
The Gamecocks ( 32-1) won their fifth straight NCAA opener and will take on Kansas State on Sunday night for a spot in the Sweet 16 and the next phase of the Sioux Falls Region.
The 16th- seeded Dolphins ( 22-11) were the Atlantic Sun Conference champions who came in with an eight- game winning streak. They were no match, however, for the tall, strong twin- post- presence of 6-foot-4 Coates and 6-5 Wilson.
Wilson, the Southeastern Conference player of the year, had six quick points to put South Carolina ahead for good. Jacksonville, whose tallest player is 6-1, had no way to respond as the Gamecocks continued to find Wilson and Coates underneath for easy baskets.
Briona Brown had 17 points to lead Jacksonville.
Tiffany Mitchell had 14 points for South Carolina, which has beaten its past five first-round opponents by an average of 27 points.
Jacksonville was ready to enjoy its first NCAA tournament experience and, as coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said Thursday, maybe “throw a little scare” into the Gamecocks.
That did not happen, although the Dolphins did hold a 2-0 lead on Sherranda Riddick’s two foul shots. Jacksonville didn’t score again for another six minutes as the Gamecocks steadily took over. They were ahead by nine points at the end of the quarter and led 32-21 at the break.
Kansas State 56, George Washington 51 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Megan Daines scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half, including the go- ahead foul shot, as No. 9 seed Kansas State rallied past eighth-seeded George Washington in a first-round Sioux Falls Region matchup.
The Wildcats (19-12) used a 14-5 burst in the third quarter, including her foul shot for Kansas State’s first lead of the game at 39-38 with 37 seconds left in the period.
George Washington ( 26-7) kept things tight, trailing 52-51 on Jonquel Jones’ foul shot with 20.1 seconds left, but the Wildcats made four of six free throws down the stretch.
Jones had 20 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks for the Colonials.
Baylor 89, Idaho 59 WACO, Texas — Alexis Jones scored 23 points in her first NCAA tournament game with Baylor, and the top-seeded Lady Bears rolled on their home court in the opening round in the Dallas Region.
Jones hit a 3- pointer on the game’s first shot to put Baylor ( 34-1) ahead to stay in its 21st consecutive victory. That was the first of her five 3s, including another that started the scoring in the second half for the Lady Bears, who face Auburn in Sunday’s second round.
Ali Forde had 17 points to lead Idaho (24-10).
Auburn 68, St. John’s 57 WACO, Texas — Janiah McKay scored 24 points as Auburn opened its first women’s NCAA tournament trip since 2009 with a solid victory.
The ninth-seeded Tigers (2012) jumped out to a 25- 6 lead early in the second quarter, then held on after their lead had been trimmed to three points in the third quarter.
Danaejah Grant had 25 points to lead eighth-seeded St. John’s (2310), while Aliyyah Handford scored 10. The Red Storm were coming off their first Big East Conference tournament title since 1988.
St. John’s was within 37- 34 when Grant’s jumper with six minutes left in the third quarter capped a 7-0 run. But the Tigers extended their lead back to 44-35 on a 3-pointer by McKay with a minute left in the quarter.