Vulcans race to big victory in first round

The fourth-seeded California University of Pa. Vulcans (25-5) raced out to 28point lead in the first half before claiming an 82-71 victory against fifth-seeded Charleston (25-7) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Waco Center on the campus of Glenville State in West Virginia.

With the win, the California women advance to face host Glenville State Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Sophomore Bianca Jasper scored a career-high 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting and eight-of-nine from the freethrow line.

Senior Abbey Sporio finished with 18 points, while redshirt senior Seairra Barrett posted 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

IUP women

Senior forward Brittany Robinson had a double-double and was one of five starters in double-figures as the Crimson Hawks (27-3) defeated Bowie State (22-6), 67-60 in the opening round of the 2019 Division II Atlantic Region championship at Glenville State. Robinson finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds to help IUP advance to Saturday’s semifinals against Virginia Union.

West Virginia men

The Mountaineers’ (14-20, 4-14) magic run through the Big 12 tournament ended with a 88-74 loss to No. 17 Kansas. Lamont West scored 16 points and Derek Culver added 14 in the semifinal game, but it was not enough to offset the Jayhawks (25-8, 12-6) balanced scoring.

America East women

Blanca Millan scored 19 points, Fanny Wadling picked up a double-double and her 500th career rebound as Maine (25-7) pulled away in the second half to defeat Hartford, 68-48 in the America East championship for its second-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Big Sky women

Desirae Hansen hit a 12-foot jumper with 3.1 seconds left to lift Portland State (25-7) to a 61-59 victory against Eastern Washington and claim the Big Sky Conference tournament and an NCAA berth.