Virginia finishes off UCSB, 86-52

On a day there was only one minor upset in the NCAA women’s tournament, fourth-seeded Virginia coasted past 13th-seeded UC Santa Barbara, 86-52, Sunday in the first round of the Greensboro Regional at Norfolk, Va.

The Cavaliers (24-9) pulled away from the Gauchos (23-8) with an 11-3 run to close the first half.

Virginia added a 16-0 run in the second half to eliminate the tournament’s lone remaining Southern California representative.

Virginia will play Old Dominion in the second round. The fifth-seeded Monarchs (30-4) ended their six-game losing streak in the NCAA tournament with an 82-62 victory over 12th-seeded Liberty (28-4) at Norfolk.

At Bridgeport, Conn., Connecticut turned another first-round game into a glorified layup line with Maya Moore scoring 17 points in an 89-47 victory over 16th-seeded Cornell (20-9). Connecticut (33-1) will play Texas next.

In their first NCAA game since 2005, the Gail Goestenkors-coached Longhorns (22-12) beat Minnesota (20-12), 72-55, at Bridgeport.

Spokane Regional

Top-seeded Maryland (31-3) struggled before putting away 16th-seeded Coppin State, 80-66, at College Park, Md.

The Terrapins, who led by only four early with 17 minutes left, were able to thrive with a 28-10 free-throw advantage and a 42-26 rebounding edge.

The Eagles (22-11), however, made more field goals (27-24), had fewer turnovers (16-15) and played with far more fervor.

Maryland will next play eighth-seeded Nebraska (21-11), which led by 15 in the second half, then held off a furious comeback by ninth-seeded Xavier (24-9) for a 61-58 victory at College Park.

Oklahoma City Regional

Candace Parker scored 14 points in 18 minutes, and freshman Angie Bjorklund made four three-point shots and finished with 16 points to lead Tennessee (31-2) to a 94-55 victory over 16th-seeded Oral Roberts (19-14) at West Lafayette, Ind.

The Lady Vols will next play Purdue, which had the day’s only upset. The ninth-seeded Boilermakers (19-14), who had lost four of six before taking three consecutive games in the Big Ten tournament, continued their win streak with a 66-59 victory over eighth-seeded Utah (27-5) at West Lafayette.

At College Park, third-seeded Duke (24-9) never trailed, cruising past 14th-seeded Murray State (24-8), 78-57, with 16 points from Wanisha Smith.

The Blue Devils will play sixth-seeded Arizona State, which produced a 61-54 victory over 11th-seeded Temple (21-13) at College Park. The Sun Devils (22-10) followed a poor first half with a 13-0 run to pull away in the second half.

At West Lafayette, Notre Dame’s Ashley Barlow had 20 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists to lead the fifth-seeded Fighting Irish to a 75-62 victory over 12th-seeded Southern Methodist (24-9).

The Irish (24-8) next play Oklahoma. The fourth-seeded Sooners (22-8) got a 69-61 victory over 13th-seeded Illinois State (26-7) at West Lafayette by starting the second half with a 13-0 run, then holding off a late rally.

New Orleans Regional

Top-seeded North Carolina opened the game with a 21-2 run and coasted to an 85-50 victory over 16th-seeded Bucknell (16-16) at Norfolk.

The Tar Heels (31-2) next will play eighth-seeded Georgia, which advanced with a 67-61 victory over ninth-seeded Iowa at Norfolk. There were 11 lead changes, but the Hawkeyes (21-11) ran out of steam against the Bulldogs (23-9).

At Bridgeport, little-used reserve Kelsey Nelson scored a career-high 20 points to lift fifth-seeded Kansas State (22-9) over 12th-seeded Chattanooga (29-4), 69-59.

The Wildcats will next play fourth-seeded Louisville.

The Cardinals (25-9), led by Chauntise Wright’s 21 points and seven rebounds, ran away with an 81-67 victory over 13th-seeded Miami of Ohio (23-11) at Bridgeport.