KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It didn’t take long for Tennessee to put last year’s first round NCAA Tournament loss behind it.
Kelley Cain had 18 points and 12 rebounds as No. 1 Tennessee beat No. 16 seed Austin Peay 75-42 on Saturday in the opening round of the women’s tournament.
The Lady Vols (31-2), playing in their NCAA-record 29th first-round game, have advanced out of the opening weekend every season except last year, when they lost 71-55 to Ball State in the first round as a No. 5 seed. They’re now 43-1 in the first two rounds.
Cain, who spent much of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on the bench in foul trouble, hit a jumper 30 seconds into the game, and the Lady Vols scored the first 15 points before Austin Peay made a basket.
And Austin Peay’s loss still wasn’t as bad as the last time it visited Knoxville, when it lost 80-38 to Tennessee in the opening round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
Michigan St. 72, Bowling Green 62
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Aisha Jefferson scored 17 points to lead the Spartans (23-9), who outscored the Falcons 28-4 in the paint and forced 16 turnovers to pull away over the final 10 minutes.
LSU 60, Hartford 39
DURHAM, N.C. — LaSondra Barrett scored 20 points and Courtney Jones and Allison Hightower each added 10 for the Tigers (21-9), who went on an early 17-0 run and were never seriously challenged.
St. John’s 65, Princeton 47
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Da’Shena Stevens scored 19 points and Shenneika Smith added 13 for St. John’s (25-6).
Kentucky 83, Liberty 77
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A’dia Mathies scored a career-high 32 points, and Southeastern Conference player of the year Victoria Dunlap added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats (26-7), who overcame an early nine-point deficit.
Duke 72, Hampton 37
DURHAM, N.C. — Keturah Jackson scored a career-high 13 points for the Blue Devils (28-5), who dominated nearly every stat category and outscored Hampton 35-6 during the final 15:45 of the first half.
Florida State 75, Louisiana Tech 61
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Jacinta Monroe and Courtney Ward each scored 16 points, and Florida State (27-5) clamped down defensively in the second half.
Texas A&M 84, Portland State 53
SEATTLE — Danielle Adams scored 23 points, and Tanisha Smith added 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Aggies (26-7), who opened the second half with a 18-6 spurt to turn this one into a rout.
Okla. State 70, Chattanooga 63
TEMPE, Ariz. — Toni Young scored 16 of her career-high 22 points in the second half for the Cowgirls (24-10), who outscored the Lady Mocs 51-26 in the second half.
Iowa 70, Rutgers 63
STANFORD, Calif. — Kamille Wahlin shook off a slow start and scored nine straight points in a 2 1/2-minute span late on the way to 15 in the Hawkeyes’ (20-13) first tournament win since 2002.
Georgetown 62, Marist 42
BERKELEY, Calif. — Monica McNutt scored 14 points and Latia Magee added 11 for the Hoyas (26-6).
Georgia 64, Tulane 59
TEMPE, Ariz. — Ashley Houts scored 22 points and Angel Robinson had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs (24-8).
Baylor 69, Fresno State 55
BERKELEY, Calif. — Brittney Griner had 18 points and eight rebounds, and controlled the game with her presence inside to help Baylor (24-9) hold the Bulldogs to 34 percent shooting.
Stanford 79, Cal-Riverside 47
STANFORD, Calif. — Pac-10 player of the year Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Cardinal (32-1).
Gonzaga 82, North Carolina 76
SEATTLE — Tiffany Shives had 14 of her 16 points in a crucial five-minute stretch of the second half for the Bulldogs (28-4).
The Associated Press
