Virginia Tech rolls without star Kitley in tourney opener
No Elizabeth Kitley, no problem for Virginia Tech. At least for one round.
Matilda Ekh scored 21 points to lead No. 13 Virginia Tech to a 92-49 victory over Marshall in Blacksburg in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday.
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.
Starting in place of Kitley, Clara Strack had 17 points and Carleigh Wenzel added 13 for Virginia Tech, which never trailed.
“Mentally, we knew we weren’t going to have her (Kitley), so it was like let’s step up and play together,” Virginia Tech point guard Georgia Amoore said. “She’s a big part of what we do, but we’re still us. We still have offenses that help us, and we’re put in positions to be successful. It’s just a matter of going about and grabbling those opportunities and making the most out of them.”
Abby Beeman scored 12 points for Marshall (26-7).
Duke 72, Richmond 61:
Reigan Richardson scored 25 points and had seven rebounds as Duke rallied in the second half to overtake Richmond.
No. 7 seed Duke (21-11) advances to play Ohio State on Sunday, following the Buckeyes’ 80-57 rout of Maine in a first-round contest earlier in the day..
Grace Townsend led Richmond (29-6) with 18 points, Addie Budnik had 17 and Maggie Doogan added 15.
North Carolina 59, Michigan State 56:
Deja Kelly had 13 points, and No. 8 seed UNC held off a late Michigan State run in Columbia, South Carolina.
The Spartans cut a 16-point deficit to 57-56 on Theryn Hallock’s 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds left. But Kelly did just enough at the free-throw line to pull off the victory. Alyssa Usby had 16 points and 17 rebounds, including the last one after Kelly’s miss from the line with 3.2 seconds to go.
UNC advanced to play unbeaten, top-seeded South Carolina on Sunday.
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 for a home victory. The bigger and faster Buckeyes swarmed Maine with a stifling press, forcing 22 turnovers.
Second-seeded Ohio State advances to play the winner of Richmond-Duke on Sunday. Sheldon scored her 2,000th career point with a layup late in the first half. Cotie McMahon scored 13 for Ohio State, and Celeste Taylor and Taylor Thierry each added 12.
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 in the first round in Portland, Oregon.
Kansas State 78, Portland 65: Gabby Gregory had 22 points and Ayoka Lee scored 21 to lead Kansas State to a win over Portland at home.
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 for a victory at home.
Texas 82, Drexel 42: Shaylee Gonzales scored 21 points, Taylor Jones added 18 and No. 1 seed Texas beat No. 16 Drexel at home.
Baylor 80, Vanderbilt 63: Bella Fontleroy scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lift fifth-seeded Baylor to a victory over No. 12 Vanderbilt in Blacksburg.
Late Thursday First Four Holy Cross 72, UT Martin 45:
Senior Cara McCormack set career highs with 23 points and seven 3-pointers in Iowa City as Holy Cross secured its second NCAA Tournament win in program history.
Arizona 69, Auburn 59:
Freshman Jada Williams had 17 points, Helena Pueyo scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half in Storrs, Connecticut, and Arizona (18-15) earned its fourth straight opening win in the NCAA Tournament by handling Auburn (20-12). The No. 11-seeded Wildcats will face sixth-seeded Syracuse on Saturday after improving to 8-3 in NCAA Tournament games under coach Adia Barnes.