U-Va. Easily Beats UCSB, ODU Is Next

Lyndra Littles scored 17 points and the Virginia Cavaliers (24-9) used a 16-0 run early in the second half to break open their first-round game against UC Santa Barbara last night, then kept pouring it on to win, 86-52, in the NCAA tournament's Greensboro Region in Norfolk.

The victory sets the Cavaliers up for a showdown with Old Dominion for state bragging rights tomorrow night. The Lady Monarchs advanced with an 82-62 victory over Liberty.

OLD DOMINION 82, LIBERTY 62: For a change, the Lady Monarchs were not gracious hosts. Shahida Williams scored 20 points on 10-for-11 shooting as her team ended its six-game losing streak in the NCAA tournament in Norfolk.

Fifth-seeded Old Dominion (30-4) has won an NCAA-record 17 consecutive Colonial Athletic Association titles. But it had lost five consecutive first-round games, including two in the Constant Convocation Center.

Last night, Williams dominated inside and Jazzmin Walters hit three three-pointers, the last to spark a 15-0 first-half run.

The undermanned Lady Flames had no answer.

Walters finished with 12 points and nine assists for the Lady Monarchs, and Jessica Canady scored 14, all in the second half. Megan Pym had seven blocked shots.

Megan Frazee led Liberty (28-4) with 19 points. Liberty was in the tournament for the 11th time in 12 years. It came in having won two tournament games in its history, both in 2005.

But the Lady Flames lost Rebecca Lightfoot and second-leading scorer Moriah Frazee to season-ending right knee injuries in recent weeks, and their seven regulars were no match for the waves of fresh bodies Old Dominion's coaches kept sending into the game.

Liberty actually led early, 19-14, before Walters hit a three-pointer from the top of the key.

The Lady Monarchs led 29-19 before Liberty scored again, and it was 44-30 at the half.

CONNECTICUT 89, CORNELL 47: The Huskies turned another first-round NCAA tournament game into a glorified layup line. Maya Moore scored 17 points to lead a balanced offense for top-seeded U-Conn. against the 16th-seeded Big Red in Bridgeport, Conn.

The Huskies (33-1) haven't won a first-round game by fewer than 23 points since 1995. The victory served as a birthday present to Coach Geno Auriemma, who turned 54 yesterday.

Allie Fedorowicz and Gretchen Gregg scored eight points each to lead Cornell (20-9).

The win started the Huskies' quest to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2004. The four seniors -- Ketia Swanier, Hunter, Houston, and the injured Mel Thomas -- are trying to avoid becoming the first U-Conn. class not to appear in a Final Four in 20 years.

The Big Red, making its NCAA tournament debut, set a school record with 20 wins this season; the previous high had been 12.

About the only time the Huskies were scrambling, however, came in the pregame warmups when they were caught on the wrong side of the court for the national anthem. The Huskies quickly ran across the floor as the Cornell band started playing the "Star-Spangled Banner."

Cornell hung tough with for the opening few minutes and trailed 7-5. The Huskies then went on a 22-2 run over the next 5 1/2 minutes to put the game away. Connecticut held Cornell without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes to extend its lead to 41-16.

Kayleen Fitzsimmons finally ended the Big Red's drought with a three-pointer.

Jeomi Maduka, the Ivy League player of the year, was held to seven points and went 0 for 10 from the field.

The two-sport star, who has already qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials in the long jump, is believed to be the first woman to be an indoor all-American in track and field and play in the NCAA basketball tournament in the same season.

TEXAS 72, MINNESOTA 55: The Longhorns made an emphatic statement in their first game in the NCAA tournament since 2005. Brittainy Raven scored 19 points and eighth-seeded Texas (22-12) routed the ninth-seeded Golden Gophers in Bridgeport, Conn. Emily Fox led Minnesota with 23 points, six above her season average.

Leslie Knight added 12 for Minnesota, which finished the season 20-12.

The Longhorns ran out to an early 17-5 lead, forcing eight Gophers turnovers and turning several into transition buckets. And they closed the half on an 11-0 run and went into intermission leading 32-18.