Va. Tech routs Mizzou; Lady Vol dunks twice
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.
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.
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.