Kentucky women crush Michigan State
3/23/2010LOUISVILLE - Kentucky turned a battle of styles into a mismatch.
The undersized fourth-seeded Wildcats raced past bigger - and slightly slower - fifth-seeded Michigan State 70-52 yesterday in the second round of the NCAA women's tournament.
Victoria Dunlap, the Southeastern Conference player of the year, shook off an upset stomach to lead Kentucky (27-7) with 21 points as the Wildcats moved into the round of 16 for the first time in 28 years.
Dunlap needed to be treated with IV fluids before the game and landed awkwardly on her right ankle late in the first half, not that it stopped her from making 9-of-13 field goals and snagging eight rebounds.
"I just believe that she was attacking," Michigan State forward Lykendra Johnson said. "She just kept attacking our post players and never stopped."
The Spartans were looking for their second straight trip to the regional semifinals and fourth in the last six years. Yet Michigan State had little answer for Kentucky's relentless pressure, which forced the Spartans into 18 turnovers and harassed them into 35 percent shooting.
Kalisha Keane led Michigan State with 10 points. The Spartans' point total was their lowest ever in the NCAA tournament.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Alicia Manning scored a career-high 17 points and had 10 rebounds to help No. 1-seeded Tennessee beat eighth-seeded Dayton.
Tennessee (32-2) will make its 28th appearance in the regional semifinals, this time playing 350 miles from home in Memphis.
The Lady Vols have been absent from the round of 16 only once in the tournament's 29-year history. They lost 71-55 to Ball State in the opening round last season.
Dayton (25-8) was tasked with playing its second all-time NCAA tournament game in front of about 10,000 orange-clad fans on the court named for Tennessee coach Pat Summitt.
TALLAHASSEE - Jacinta Monroe scored with 28.9 seconds left in overtime to put Florida State ahead for good, and the third-seeded Seminoles got one last stop to beat sixth-seeded St. John's.
Monroe finished with 16 points, including the last four of regulation for Florida State (28-5).
The Red Storm (25-7) led by five with 1:51 left in regulation.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois used a big second-half run to beat Kent State last night and advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
With the game tied at 31 at halftime, Illinois (20-14) went on an 18-7 run out of the break to take control. Illinois hosts the winner of Dayton-Cincinnati tomorrow.
For a team that relies on its outside shooting, Illinois pounded the ball inside to score 40 of its points in the paint. Mike Davis had 16 points and 16 rebounds for his 15th double-double this season, while Mike Tisdale had 17 points.
Kent State (24-9) hurt itself at the free-throw line, converting only 10 of 18 attempts for a paltry 55.6 percent while shooting 38.9 percent from the field.
Justin Greene led the Golden Flashes with 15 points, while Anthony Simpson provided a spark off the bench with 14 points.
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Dorenzo Hudson scored 17 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to lift Virginia Tech past Connecticut.
The Hokies (25-8), who tied a school record for victories, advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT, where they will play Rhode Island at home on a date to be determined.
Following a timeout with 22 seconds left and the Hokies trailing 63-62, Hudson buried a 17-foot jumper with 14.1 seconds to go to give them a one-point lead.
After UConn (18-16) called a timeout, Kemba Walker, who led the Huskies with 18 points, had a shot blocked by Virginia Tech's Jeff Allen. Walker got the loose ball and threw it to Gavin Edwards, who missed a layup and the Hokies' Terrell Bell got the rebound.
Walker fouled Bell with less than a second to go and Bell made the second of two free throws, giving Tech a 65-63 lead. Walker's long shot was off the mark as time expired.
KINGSTON, R.I. - Delroy James scored a career-high 34 points and Rhode Island held off Nevada. The Rams (25-9) will play Virginia Tech.
Brandon Fields led the Wolf Pack (21-13) with 25 points, but Rhode Island held WAC player of the year Luke Babbitt to 14 points - eight below his season average.
Late in the first half, Nevada fell behind by seven but fought back to tie it at 37, only to watch Rhode Island score the last five points of the half to lead 42-37.
