Connecticut 89, Cornell 47
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Maya Moore, the Big East freshman and player of the year, scored 17 points to lead a balanced offense as top-ranked UConn beat No. 16 seed Cornell.
UConn (33-1) hasn’t won a first-round game by fewer than 23 points since 1995, the year the Huskies earned the first of their five national titles. Charde Houston added 14 points, Brittany Hunter had 11, and Renee Montgomery 10 as Connecticut shot 54 percent from the field.
“That’s how we love to play,” Montgomery said of the balanced offense. “There isn’t a need for someone to score 20 points a night.”
The win started the Huskies’ quest to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2004. Their four seniors — Ketia Swanier, Hunter, Houston and the injured Mel Thomas — are trying to avoid becoming the first UConn class not to appear in a Final Four in 20 years.
The Big Red (20-9) set a school record with 20 wins this season, blowing away the previous high of 12.
Texas 72, Minnesota 55
Brittainy Raven scored 19 points and Erneisha Bailey added 16 for eighth-seeded Texas (22-12).
Old Dominion 82, Liberty 62
NORFOLK, Va.Shahida Williams scored 20 points on 10-for-11 shooting as the Lady Monarchs (30-4) ended their six-game tournament losing streak.
Virginia 86, Cal-Santa Barbara 52
Lyndra Littles scored 17 points and the Cavaliers (24-9) used a 16-0 run early in the second half to break the game open.
