No. 2 UConn routs Arkansas State 103-34 in tourney opener

NCAA WOMEN

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UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) is guarded by Arkansas State guard Wynter Rogers during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Storrs, Conn. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Arkansas State guard Crislyn Rose, right, is guarded by UConn guard Azzi Fudd during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Storrs, Conn. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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STORRS, Conn. >> Azzi Fudd had 21 of her 27 points in the first half as second-seeded UConn rolled to a 103-34 win over Arkansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Freshman Sarah Strong added 20 points and 12 rebounds, five assists and five blocks in her NCAA Tournament debut. Most of those came in the first half when UConn jumped out to a 66-16 advantage at the half, playing nearly flawless basketball.

The Huskies had runs of 22-0, 12-0 and 13-0 in the first half as UConn won its 31st consecutive first-round game.

UConn (32-3) scored 34 points in the first quarter, making all 11 of its two-point shots. Many of those were layups coming off the press.

Arkansas State (21-11), which likes to apply pressure itself, had no answer for the Huskies.

Crislyn Rose led the Red Wolves with seven points. The team shot 17% from the field (12-for-70), including going 7-for-40 from behind the arc.

iowa 92, MURRAY STATE 57 >> Freshman Ava Heiden scored a career-high 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and sixth-seeded Iowa rolled past No. 11 seed Murray State 92-57 on Saturday in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Heiden hadn’t scored in double figures all season until Iowa’s final two games in the Big Ten Tournament. Still, March Madness was different.

“This is the first time Ava and company, the young kids, have been on the biggest stage,” Iowa coach Jan Jensen said. “She just kind of locked in that next level. We challenged her and she really answered it.”

Lucy Olsen had 12 points and a career-high 12 assists for the Hawkeyes (23-10). They scored a season high in points in the first tournament win for Jensen, a longtime assistant who was promoted after Lisa Bluder retired.

“I’m just really grateful to get this first win. Any time you can survive and advance in any tournament ... when you get to do it in the NCAA, it feels special,” Jensen said. “So I’m really thankful.”

Iowa will play third-seeded Oklahoma on Monday for a spot in the Sweet 16. The Sooners defeated No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast 81-58 in the other game at the Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 74, OKLAHOMA STATE 68 >> Madison Mathiowetz scored all 15 of her points in the second half as 10th-seeded South Dakota State erased a double-digit deficit to top No. 7 seed Oklahoma State 74-68 on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Brooklyn Meyer had 19 points and eight rebounds, Paige Meyer had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Haleigh Timmer added 11 points for South Dakota State (30-3).

USC 71, UNC GREENSBORO>> JuJu Watkins scored 22 points and top-seeded Southern California led all the way in routing 16th-seeded UNC Greensboro 71-25 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

The Trojans (29-3) advanced to the second round to play either eighth-seeded California or ninth-seeded Mississippi State on Monday at Galen Center.

North Carolina 70, Oregon State 49 >> Lexi Donarski scored 19 points, including 17 in the third quarter, and North Carolina beat Oregon State 70-49 in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Donarski also matched a season high with five 3-pointers, all coming during North Carolina’s dominant third quarter when it outscored Oregon State 30-9 in the period. Alyssa Ustby had 10 points and nine rebounds, including a program-record 1,252nd of her career, and Maria Gakdeng added 13 points.

Kelsey Rees led Oregon State (19-16) with 15 points and 10 rebounds. AJ Marotte scored 13 points.

Mississippi State 59, California 46 >> Madina Okot had 14 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out late and ninth-seeded Mississippi State beat California 59-46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Eniya Russell added 14 points for the Bulldogs (22-11), who are back in March Madness for the first time in two years. They lost in the national title game in 2017 and 2018.

Michigan State 64, Harvard 50 >> Grace VanSlooten had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Michigan State beat Harvard 64-50 in the women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Jocelyn Tate had 13 points as the seventh-seeded Spartans (22-9) advanced to the second round for the first time since 2019. Theryn Hallock added 10 points.

Alabama 81, Green Bay 67>> Aaliyah Nye scored 23 points and Zaay Green added 22 to lead fifth-seeded Alabama to an 81-67 victory over 12th-seeded Green Bay on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide (24-8) ended Green Bay’s 22-game winning streak and now advances to the second round to face fourth-seeded Maryland on Monday. Maddy Schreiber scored 14 points for the Phoenix (29-6).

Maryland 82, Norfolk State 69 >> Sarah Te-Biasu and Kaylene Smikle led a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter, and fourth-seeded Maryland held off 13th-seeded Norfolk State 82-69 on Saturday to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Terrapins (24-7) will host fifth-seeded Alabama on Monday with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line, but advancing wasn’t easy against a Norfolk State (30-5) team that entered on a 19-game winning streak. The scrappy Spartans trailed by just four early in the fourth quarter before a series of outside shots by Te-Biasu and Smikle gave Maryland some breathing room.

Illinois 66, Creighton 57 >> Genesis Bryant scored 17 points and No. 8 Illinois earned its first NCAA Tournament victory in 25 years Saturday night with a 66-57 win over No. 9 Creighton.

Illinois’ tough defense frustrated Creighton’s outside shooters as the Illini also dominated on the boards. Kendall Bostic added 12 points and 17 rebounds for Illinois (22-9), which advances to the second round on Monday against the winner of No. 1 Texas (31-3) against No. 16 William & Mary.