Top-seeded USC rolls to 32-point victory in opener

JuJu Watkins scored 23 points in her NCAA Tournament debut, leading Portland 3 Regional No. 1 seed USC to an 87-55 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday.

The Trojans (27-5) also got 23 points from McKenzie Forbes in the firstround game.

The 16th-seeded Islanders (23-9) scored the first basket, then the Trojans took over. Watkins hit a 3-pointer for her first points to launch a 21-0 run in which five different players scored.

USC poured it on in the third quarter, outscoring the Islanders 35-21. The Trojans closed on a 20-5 run to lead 71-41 going into the fourth.

Watkins added five rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals before sitting down with 3:37 remaining.

UCONN 86, JACKSON STATE 64 >> Paige Bueckers scored 28 points and freshman Ashlynn Shade added 26 as the No. 3 seed Huskies celebrated coach Geno Auriemma's 70th birthday with a win over the 14thseeded Tigers (26-7).

Aaliyah Edwards had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies (30-5). KANSAS 81, MICHIGAN 72, OT >> Zakiyah Franklin scored 22 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in regulation, and the Jayhawks topped the Wolverines (20-14) in overtime.

The eighth-seeded Jayhawks (20-12) rallied in the fourth quarter, when they outscored the Wolverines 23-14. Then Kansas controlled the five-minute extra session, 14-5. SYRACUSE 74, ARIZONA 69 >> Dyaisha Fair scored 32 points to lead the sixthseeded Orange (24-7) to a come-from-behind win over the No. 11 seed Wildcats.

Skyler Jones had 24 points for Arizona (18-16).

Albany 2 Regional

IOWA 91, HOLY CROSS 65 >> Caitlin Clark finished with 27 points and 10 assists as the Albany 2 Regional topseeded Hawkeyes beat the No. 16 Crusaders (21-13).

Kate Martin also had a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Hawkeyes (30-4).

Clark compiled her 65th career double-double and added eight rebounds. WEST VIRGINIA 63, PRINCETON 53 >> JJ Quinerly scored 29 points as the eighthseeded Mountaineers (257) beat the No. 9 seed Tigers (25-5).

CREIGHTON 87, UNLV 73 >> Lauren Jensen scored 25 points, Emma Ronsiek added 23 and the seventhseeded Bluejays (26-5) sank 15 3-pointers en route to a victory over the No.10 seed Lady Rebels (30-3) despite 30 points from Desi-Rae Young.

Albany 1 Regional

INDIANA 89, FAIRFIELD 56 >> Sara Scalia scored 27 points to lead the fourthseeded Hoosiers (25-5) to a victory over the No. 13 Stags (31-2), who saw their 29-game winning streak come to an end.

NOTRE DAME 81, KENT STATE 67 >> Sonia Citron scored 29 points and Hannah Hidalgo had 14 points and 11 assists as the No. 2-seeded Fighting Irish (27-6) beat the 15th-seeded Golden Flashes (21-11). OKLAHOMA 73, FLORIDA GULF COAST 70 >> Skylar Vann scored 24 points and the fifth-seeded Sooners (23-9) held off the No. 12 seed Eagles (29-5). MISSISSIPPI 67, MARQUETTE 55 >> Madison Scott scored 20 points and the seventhseeded Rebels (24-8) beat the 10th-seeded Golden Eagles (23-9).

Portland 4 Regional

TENNESSEE 92, GREEN BAY 63 >> Rickea Jackson scored 26 points and the sixthseeded Volunteers (20-12) rolled past the 11th-seeded Phoenix (27-7).

N.C. STATE 64, CHATTANOOGA 45 >> Aziaha James scored each of her 19 points in the second half, and the third-seeded Wolfpack pulled away from the No. 14 seed Mocs (28-5).