STATE COLLEGE, PA. ? Virginia Tech used experience to beat back Missouri every time its lead was threatened.

The Hokies’ four senior starters – who have been to the NCAA Tournament every year – played with poise and ran a crisp offense in the opener to hold off Missouri, 82-51, Sunday night.

Dawn Chriss had 21 points, and fellow senior Carrie Mason scored key second-half baskets as the Hokies pulled away to a first-round victory.

Another senior, Kerri Gardin, had 17 points and 13 rebounds. Kirby Copeland, a junior, added 10 for Virginia Tech – the No. 7 seed in the Bridgeport Regional. Next up is second-seeded Connecticut.

Missouri, which never led, cut a 15-point first-half deficit to 45-40 with about 13 minutes remaining when LaToya Bond made two free throws.

Virginia Tech, paced by a balanced offense all season, took over from there. Mason made a three-pointer, scored on a layup after a steal, and connected with Copeland for another basket on a break to give the Hokies a 13-point lead just 4 minutes later.

Bond led Missouri with 13 points but shot just 3-of-14 from the field. Carlynn Savant added nine points and eight rebounds for the Tigers, who had 21 turnovers compared to 10 for Virginia Tech.

Tennessee forward Candace Parker dunks against Army. The Lady Vols won, 102-54, Sunday in Norfolk, Va.

The loss spoiled a comeback campaign for Missouri, which finished 21-10 after going 11-18 last season.

The Tigers were picked in the preseason to finish 10th in the Big 12 Conference, but ended up a surprising fourth. Coach Cindy Stein hoped that she could also surprise in the NCAA Tournament after her team was selected as a 10th seed.

Hartford 64, Temple 58

Trenton, N.J. – Danielle Hood scored 20 points and outplayed Atlantic 10 player of the year Candice Dupree as Hartford (27-3) upset sixth-seeded Temple.

Georgia 75, Marist 60

Trenton, N.J. – Tasha Humphrey scored 23 to lead the third-seeded Bulldogs (22-8).

Duke 96, Southern 27

Norfolk, Va. – Monique Currie scored 19, leading the top-seeded Blue Devils (27-3).

Connecticut 77, Coppin State 54

State College, Pa. – Away from home for the first time ever for a first-round NCAA tournament game, Connecticut got an early scare from Coppin State. Barbara Turner had 23 points, and Ann Strother added 11 for second-seeded Connecticut.

Missouri coach Cindy Stein grimaces during the final minutes of the Tigers' loss to Virginia Tech. MU fell, 82-51, Sunday in State College, Pa.

USC 67, South Florida 65

Norfolk, Va. – Chloe Kerr blocked a shot by South Florida’s Jessica Dickson with 16 seconds to play, and Camille LeNoir made two free throws in the last 12 seconds as USC (19-11) survived.

Cleveland Regional

Tennessee 102, Army 54

Norfolk, Va. – Candace Parker of Tennessee slam-dunked her way into NCAA history with a feat that even fans of underdog Army had to appreciate.

The 6-foot-4 Parker became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game, jamming one-handed on a breakaway just 6:12 into the second-seeded Lady Vols’ victory.

Then, for good measure, Parker ensured her place in history by becoming the first to do it twice in a college game with another one-hander on the baseline. She finished with 26 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

Tennessee (29-4) will face George Washington in the second round of the Cleveland Regional on Tuesday night.

George Washington 87, Old Dominion 72

Norfolk, Va. – Sarah-Jo Lawrence scored 20, and the Colonials (23-8) held off a desperate rally by the host Lady Monarchs (21-9).

TCU 69, Texas A&M 65

Trenton, N.J. – Ashley Davis had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and 11th-seeded TCU beat the sixth-seeded Aggies. TCU (19-11) improved to 28-2 against its former rival with its 14th straight victory against Texas A&M. Takia Starks had 18 points, and Morenike Atunrase added 14 for the Aggies (24-8).

Purdue 73, Missouri State 52

West Lafayette, Ind. – Aya Traore had 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, helping Purdue (25-6) beat Missouri State (17-5).

UCLA 74, Bowling Green 61

West Lafayette, Ind. – Two weeks after claiming their first Pac-10 tournament title, the fifth-seeded Bruins (21-10) finally ended their postseason misery with their first NCAA win since beating Colorado State in the 1999 regional semifinals.

Rutgers 63, Dartmouth 58

Trenton, N.J. – Cappie Pondexter scored 21, and third-seeded Rutgers (26-4) rebounded from a stunning loss in the Big East tournament.

Albuquerque Regional

St. John’s 78, California 68

State College, Pa. – St. John’s guard Kia Wright had 26 points, and high school buddy and current teammate Angela Clark had 14 points and seven rebounds as resurgent St. John’s (22-7) won its first NCAA Tournament game in 18 years.

Maryland 95, Sacred Heart 54

State College, Pa. – Jade Perry had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and second-seeded Maryland (29-4) led from the opening tip.

Boston College 78, Notre Dame 61

West Lafayette, Ind. – Brooke Queenan had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Aja Parham scored 16, and the Eagles (20-11) snapped a five-game losing streak.

Ohio State 68, Oakland 45

West Lafayette, Ind. – The top-seeded Buckeyes (29-2) took advantage of a huge size disparity inside, going repeatedly to 6-foot-5 Jessica Davenport and 6-1 Debbie Merrill.