South Carolina wins for Staley’s 500th
SAN ANTONIO — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was already thinking ahead after getting her 500th career win in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
“Five hundred one sounds nice, and on and on and on,” Staley said.
Aliyah Boston had 20 points and 18 rebounds and Victaria Saxton also scored 20, leading the top-seeded Gamecocks to a 79-53 victory over Mercer on Sunday.
South Carolina (23-4) grabbed the lead for good when it closed the first half with a 16-5 run.
Next up for South Carolina is a matchup with Oregon State on Tuesday.
NO. 1 CONNECTICUT 102 HIGH POINT 59
Paige Bueckers scored 24 points to lead the Huskies to a rout at San Antonio.
Bueckers, the third player ever to make firstteam All-America as a freshman, had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists at the half as UConn led 53-29.
NO. 1 STANFORD 87 NO. 16 UTAH VALLEY 44
Kiana Williams scored 20 points while becoming Stanford’s career leader in made 3-pointers as the top-seeded Cardinal overwhelmed the Wolverines at San Antonio.
Stanford never trailed after Williams, who made 6-of-11 from beyond the arc, hit a 3 for the first basket in the opening minute and tied the school mark of 295 held by Candice Wiggins.
NO. 1 N. CAROLINA ST. 79 NO. 16 N.C. A&T 58
Jada Boyd scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half to help top-seeded Wolfpack overcome a slow start and coast to a win over the Aggies at San Marcos.
NO. 5 IOWA 87
NO. 12 C. MICHIGAN 72
Caitlin Clark finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Monika Czinano also scored 23 points, and the Hawkeyes won at San Antonio.
Iowa (19-9) advances to play Kentucky.
NO. 7 VIRGINIA TECH 70 NO. 10 MARQUETTE 63
Elizabeth Kitley had 23 points and the Hokies held on to beat the Golden Eagles at San Marcos.
NO. 8 OKLAHOMA ST. 84 NO. 9 WAKE FOREST 61
Natasha Mack scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Cowgirls (19-8) over the Demon Deacons at San Antonio and into a second-round matchup overall No. 1 seed Stanford on Tuesday.
Mack was 13-of-22 shooting, feasting on a variety of shots inside, and collected her 18th double-double of the season. She was also a force on defense with 11 defensive boards, and blocking four shots to extend her nation-leading total to 111.
NO. 8 OREGON ST. 83 NO. 9 FLORIDA ST. 59
Aleah Goodman scored 24 points with five rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers, Taylor Jones added 18 points and eight boards, and the Beavers routed the Seminoles at San Antonio.
NO. 8 SYRACUSE 72 NO. 9 S. DAKOTA ST. 55
Emily Engstler scored 18 points and made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Orange won at Austin.
Syracuse advanced to the second round to play the winner of No. 1 seed UConn and No. 16 High Point in San Antonio.
NO. 6 MICHIGAN 87 NO. 11 FLA. GULF COAST 66
Leigha Brown scored 28 points, including 17 straight as the Wolverines beat the Eagles at San Antonio.
Michigan (15-5) will play Tennessee in the second round on Tuesday.
NO.4 KENTUCKY 71 NO. 13 IDAHO ST. 63
Rhyne Howard and Chasity Patterson scored 14 points apiece and the Wildcats beat the Bengals at San Antonio.
Blair Green added 10 points for the Wildcats (18-8), who face fifth-seeded Iowa in the second round on Tuesday.
NO. 3 TENNESSEE 87 NO. 14 MIDDLE TENN. 62
Rennia Davis scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and the Lady Vols used a dominant second half to beat the Blue Raiders at Austin.
NO. 4 WEST VIRGINIA 77 NO. 13 LEHIGH 53
Kysre Gondrezick scored 26 points, Esmery Martinez had a doubledouble and the Mountaineers won at San Antonio.
The Mountaineers (22-6), will play fifth-seeded Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
NO. 8 SOUTH FLORIDA 57 NO. 9 WASHINGTON ST. 53
Elena Tsineke scored 18 points, including the goahead basket with 1:32 remaining, to help the Bulls edge the Cougars at Austin.