Louisville beats Nebraska 63-58, advances to face former guard Van Lith

FORT WORTH, Texas >> Tajianna Roberts scored 16 points while Jayda Curry made two free throws and drew a charging foul in the final minute as seventh-seeded Louisville beat 10th-seeded Nebraska 63-58 in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday.

After losing in the first round last season for the first time under coach Jeff Walz, the Cardinals advanced this time to face host second-seeded TCU and their former guard Hailey Van Lith.

KANSAS ST. 85, FAIRFIELD 41>> Ayoka Lee had 17 points and 10 rebounds in her return to the lineup, and fifth-seeded Kansas State beat Fairfield.

Lee went 7 for 10 from the field in her first game since she played just four minutes in a 90-60 victory over Kansas on Feb. 22. The 6-foot-6 center has been hampered by foot injuries.

INDIANA 76, UTAH 68>> Yarden Garzon scored 17 points and Shay Ciezki added 16 as No. 9 seed Indiana won its opener for a sixth straight NCAA Tournament with a victory over eighth-seeded Utah.

The Hoosiers (20-12) reached 20 wins for a sixth consecutive season.

Ciezki had 11 of her 16 points in the final two quarters as Indiana used a 15-4 run in the third period to take control.

SOUTH CAROLINA 108, TENNESSEE TECH 48>> Freshman Joyce Edwards scored 22 points in her first women’s NCAA Tournament game as No. 1 seed South Carolina began its run at a second straight national title with a victory over Tennessee Tech.

The Gamecocks (31-3) improved to 17-1 in the past four women’s tournaments, winning in 2022 and 2024. The lone defeat came to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the national semifinals in 2023.

NOTRE DAME 106, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 54>> Olivia Miles departed Notre Dame’s victory over Stephen F. Austin because of a left knee injury, casting a shadow over the school’s dominant performance.

Miles fell to the court under the SFA basket with 8:44 left in the fourth quarter. The senior guard limped off the court and headed to the team’s locker room.

TCU 73, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 51>> Madison Conner had 23 points with four 3-pointers and Sedona Prince overcame two early fouls to have 16 points and 10 rebounds as second-seeded TCU won over Fairleigh Dickinson in the Horned Frogs’ first women’s NCAA Tournament game at home.

Hailey Van Lith added 13 points and seven assists for the Big 12 champion Horned Frogs (32-3), who made their first NCAA appearance in 15 years.

OHIO ST. 71, MONTANA ST. 51>> Taylor Thierry had 16 points, and No. 4 seed Ohio State used a balanced attack to beat Montana State.

Ohio State shot 50.9% from the field, and each of its starters scored in double figures. Cotie McMahon and Chance Gray each had 15 points, and Jaloni Cambridge finished with 12. Ajae Petty had 11 points and seven rebounds.

BAYLOR 73, GRAND CANYON 60>> Aaronette Vonleh had 25 points and 11 rebounds, leading fourth-seeded Baylor to a victory over Grand Canyon.

Jada Walker scored 17 points as the host Bears (28-7) ended the Lopes’ nation-leading winning streak at 30 games in Grand Canyon’s first NCAA appearance.

MISSISSIPPI 83, BALL ST. 65>>Starr Jacobs had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kennedy Todd-Williams added 14 points with 11 boards and No. 5 seed Mississippi rolled to a victory over 12th-seeded Ball State.

Madison Scott scored 15 points as the Rebels (21-10) had a much better time on Baylor’s home court three years after South Dakota won a tournament game for the first time by beating Ole Miss in Waco.

Richmond 74, Georgia Tech 49>> Maggie Doogan had 30 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, and eighth-seeded Richmond routed ninth-seeded Georgia Tech 74-49 for the Spiders’ first women’s NCAA Tournament victory.

Tennessee 101, South Florida 66>> Talaysia Cooper had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, Samara Spencer scored 15 points and fifth-seeded Tennessee routed 12th-seeded South Florida 101-66.

Duke 86, Lehigh 25>> Oluchi Okananwa scored 15 points as second-seeded Duke’s defense powered it to a lopsided 86-25 victory over 15th-seeded Lehigh.

The number of points scored by the Mountain Hawks are the second-fewest in the history of the tournament.

— The Associated Press