South Florida tops Marquette in OT
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored 22 points and Elena Tsineke’s jumper with 31.2 seconds left in overtime put South Florida ahead for good in a 67-65 victory over No. 9 seed Marquette to start the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
The Golden Eagles (22-11) had a final look to win, but Mackenzie Hare’s 3pointer went inside the rim and rolled out with a second to play.
The Bulls (27-6), who didn’t lead for the game’s first 38 minutes, rallied several times including from 47-36 down in regulation to tie their mark for wins in a season.
The Bulls appeared to have the game won at the end of the fourth quarter, ahead 59-55 after Tsineke’s 3-pointer with 31.7 to play. But Hare’s two foul shots after a South Florida turnover tied things and forced the extra session.
It was a disappointing finish for the Golden Eagles (22-11), who built a double-digit lead as Chloe Marotta scored a team-high 25 points.
South Carolina 72, Norfolk State 40: Zia Cooke scored 11 points as host South Carolina moved five wins away from a perfect season.
Aliyah Boston had seven points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Gamecocks (33-0), who won their 39th straight game dating back to last year’s NCAA title run and moved to 11-0 in firstround games under coach Dawn Staley. They’ll face No. 8 seed South Florida on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16 in the Greenville, South Carolina Regional.
Kierra Wheeler led Norfolk State with 13 points.
Maryland 93, Holy Cross 61: Abby Meyers scored 16 points and Diamond Miller added 13 points and eight rebounds as host Maryland rolled to a victory over Holy Cross.
The Terrapins (26-6) scored the game’s first 14 points and advanced to face seventh-seeded Arizona on Sunday. Maryland was able to give its top players plenty of rest, with Miller, Meyers and Shyanne Sellers each playing a little over half the game.
Sellers had 13 points and eight assists, and Brinae Alexander led Maryland in scoring with 18 points.
Holy Cross (24-9) was led by Simone Foreman’s 13 points.
Arizona 75, West Virginia 62: In College Park, Md., Cate Reese scored 25 points and Esmery Martinez hadd a double-double against her former team, helping seventh-seeded Arizona to a victory over 10th-seeded West Virginia.
The Wildcats (22-9) started fast and never trailed. Arizona entered the tournament on a three-game losing streak, but had a couple weeks off before this matchup. The Wildcats seemed refreshed early on, shooting 72% from the field in the first quarter. West Virginia was holding opponents to 61 points per game this season, but Arizona looked ready to breeze past that after just one quarter and a 28-17 lead.
The Mountaineers (19-12) eventually settled in.
JJ Quinerly led West Virginia with 19 points.
Georgia 66, Florida State 54: In Iowa City, Iowa, Diamond Battles scored 21 points and Audrey Warren added 11 points as Georgia defeated Florida State. The 10th-seeded Lady Bulldogs (22-11) advanced to Sunday’s second round to face No. 2 seed Iowa.
Jordan Isaacs had 10 points and Javyn Nicholson had 13 rebounds for Georgia.
Iowa 95, SE Louisiana 43: Caitlin Clark had 26 points and 12 assists and Monika Czinano added 22 points as host Iowa defeated Southeastern Louisiana.
Hannah Stuelke added 13 points for the Hawkeyes, the second seed in Seattle Regional 4. Iowa (27-6) will play No. 10 seed Georgia in the second round on Sunday.
Michigan 71, UNLV 59: In Baton Rouge, La., Emily Kiser had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Maddie Nolan added 18 points, and sixth-seeded Michigan beat 11th-seeded UNLV, snapping the Rebels’ 22-game winning streak.
Leigha Brown scored 17 points for Michigan (23-9), which had lost three of its previous four games. The Wolverines used their advantages in size and physicality to build and keep a double-digit lead for much of their opening game in the Greenville 2 region.
Notre Dame 82, Southern Utah 56: Forward Maddy Westbeld scored 20 points and led host Notre Dame over No. 14 seed Southern Utah.
Guard Sonia Citron chipped in 14 points and a season-high six assists. The team’s leading scorer, she transitioned into the team’s primary facilitator with second-team Associated Press All-American guard Olivia Miles out the remainder of the season with an undisclosed knee injury.
Virginia Tech 58, Chattanooga 33: Georgia Amoore scored 22 points, Elizabeth Kitley added 12, and top-seeded Virginia Tech rolled to a 58-33 victory over No. 16 seed Chattanooga in the Seattle Region.
Kitley added 14 rebounds while Amoore hit five 3-pointers for the Hokies (28-4), who won their 12th consecutive game.
LSU 73, Hawaii 50: Angel Reese had 34 points and 15 rebounds – her 29th double-double this season – and third seeded LSU defeated No. 14 seed Hawaii in Baton Rouge, La..
Flau’Jae Johnson scored 10 for LSU (29-2), which raced to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and maintained a comfortable lead most of the way.
Mississippi State 81, Creighton 66: Jerkaila Jordan scored 20 and led No. 11 seed Mississippi State over No. 6 Creighton in South Bend, Ind.
Jessika Carter, the 6-5 Bulldog center, took advantage of the Bluejays’ undersized front court, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Anastasia Hayes chipped in 12 points and seven assists. Ahlana Smith and Asianae Johnson each added 10 points.