Wright Gives Virginia a Lift

Monica Wright wasn't about to allow an upset.

The Virginia senior guard and former Forest Park High School standout scored all of her 13 points in the second half -- including two key three-pointers down the stretch -- to push the fifth-seeded Cavaliers past No. 12 Marist, 68-61, in the first round of the NCAA tournament last night in Los Angeles.

Ariana Moorer led the Cavaliers (24-9) with 16 points. Lyndra Littles added 13 for Virginia.

Erica Allenspach scored 18 points to lead the Red Foxes (29-4) and Rachele Fitz had 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Cavaliers hit four three-pointers in a row to stretch the lead to 13 at one point. Wright had two from deep and Ariana Moorer and Britny Edwards each hit one.

-- CALIFORNIA 70, FRESNO ST. 47: Ashley Walker scored 21 points and the fourth-seeded Golden Bears' defense overwhelmed the 13th-seeded Bulldogs (24-9) in an East Region game in Los Angeles. California (26-6) advanced to a second-round game against Virginia tomorrow night.

Playing in her final NCAA tournament, Walker was 9 of 12 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds. She has scored 20 or more points in four of the five NCAA tournament games she's played.

Alexis Gray-Lawson added 14 points and Lauren Greif 11 in the Bears' sixth consecutive win over the Bulldogs.

-- MISSISSIPPI ST. 71, TEXAS 63: In Columbus, Ohio, Alexis Rack was perfect in eight trips to the foul line down the stretch, and Mississippi State was 19 of 20 as a team.

Rack finished with 20 points, her 13th straight game in double figures, for the 11th-seeded Lady Bulldogs (23-9), who blew an 11-point lead with five minutes left but hung on.

Earnesia Williams had 17 points for sixth-seeded Texas (21-12), making its 23rd NCAA trip, tied for third most. The Lady Longhorns closed the season with losses in seven of their last nine games.

-- OHIO STATE 77, SACRED HEART 63: In Columbus, Ohio, Samantha Prahalis took care of the perimeter with a career-best 23 points, and Jantel Lavender did the same inside with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the third-seeded Buckeyes. Ohio State (28-5) will play Mississippi State tomorrow night.

Freshman Callan Taylor scored a career-high 24 points for the Pioneers (25-8), champions of the Northeast Conference.

-- ARIZONA ST. 58, GEORGIA 47: In Duluth, Ga., the sixth-seeded Sun Devils (24-8) relied on their defense against the 11th-seeded Lady Bulldogs (18-14) in an East Region matchup. Arizona State entered the tournament with a two-game losing streak after point guard Dymond Simon tore a ligament in her left knee.

-- FLORIDA ST. 83, N.C. A&T 71: In Duluth, Ga., Alysha Harvin scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures and the third-seeded Seminoles pulled away from the No. 14 Aggies (26-7). Tanae Davis-Cain added 16 points for Florida State (26-7), who will face Arizona State tomorrow night.

-- SAN DIEGO ST. 76, DEPAUL 70: Jene Morris tied her career high with 35 points to lead the 10th-seeded Aztecs on their home court in San Diego. San Diego State (24-7), in its first NCAA tournament in 12 years, improved to 15-0 this season at Cox Arena and ran its overall home winning streak to 17.

Natasha Williams scored 22 for the seventh-seeded Blue Demons (23-10). The Aztecs will host Stanford tomorrow night.

-- STANFORD 74, UC SANTA BARBARA 39: In San Diego, Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year Jayne Appel had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and freshman Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 13 points and 11 rebounds as the second-seeded Cardinal (30-4) extended its winning streak to 17 games.