Clinesmith Rips Vandy

Mideast

Former Mead High School star Stacy Clinesmith scored 20 points, including five 3-pointers, as UC Santa Barbara upset sixth-seeded Vanderbilt 76-71 in overtime Saturday in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament in Champaign, Ill.

Santa Barbara, the No. 11 seed, tied the game at 67 on a free throw by Nicole Greathouse with 27 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

The Gauchos (27-5) made 5 of 8 free-throw attempts in the last 50 seconds of overtime while holding the Commodores scoreless to win their 16th game in a row.

For the first time in coach Jim Foster’s seven years at Vanderbilt, the Commodores (20-9) failed to reach the round of 16.

Vanderbilt trailed 23-5 in the first half, but used a 17-3 run to close the gap to 10 points at halftime.

The Commodores took a 55-54 lead with 9:34 left in the second half, and the lead changed hands seven times after that.

Illinois 82, Wisconsin-GB 58

Ashley Berggren scored 16 points and Nicole Vasey scored 15 as the Fighting Illini defeated the Phoenix in the other game in Champaign.

Illinois (19-9), the No. 3 seed, rebounded after losing its last three games, a streak that cost it the Big Ten title and resulted in a quick exit from the Big Ten tournament.

Illinois advanced to a second-round game Monday night against UC Santa Barbara.

Rutgers 79, Oregon 76

Tomora Young’s fifth 3-pointer of the game, an NBA-range shot with 25.5 seconds left, gave Rutgers the lead as the Scarlet Knights (21-9) defeated the Ducks (17-10) in a first-round game in Ames, Iowa.

Rutgers, the No. 5 seed, kept its composure while battling foul problems and advanced to a secondround game Monday night against Iowa State.

Oregon, seeded 12th, played gamely after losing starting guard Lisa Bowyer with a separated right shoulder in the first half and took a 76-74 lead on freshman Angelina Wolvert’s two free throws with 1:06 left.

Rutgers got the winning basket after almost losing the ball twice on inbounds plays, Shawnetta Stewart saving possession once by calling a timeout as she was falling down with the ball.

Iowa St. 79, Kent 76

Stacy Frese scored 19 of her 25 points in the first half and the Cyclones (25-7) got a big second half from Jayme Olson in defeating the Golden Flashes (23-7) in a first-round game in Ames, Iowa.

Fourth-seeded Iowa State survived an intense game to move into a second-round matchup Monday night against fifth-seeded Rutgers.

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly hyperventilated at the end of the game and had to be helped to the dressing room. However, he was OK afterwards and attended the post-game news conference.

Kent, a No. 13 seed, gave Iowa State problems throughout with its full-court pressure and half-court traps but fell just short with a late run.

Tennessee 102, Liberty 58

In the first-ever meeting between undefeated teams in the NCAA Tournament, Chamique Holdsclaw scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the top-seeded Vols (34-0) routed the 16th-seeded Flames in the second-game in Knoxville.

The Vols (34-0) will meet eighth-seeded Western Kentucky (26-8) Monday night in the second round.

The Vols started their quest for an unprecedented third straight NCAA title by missing six of their first eight shots and found themselves tied at 12.

But the Vols forced eight turnovers and reeled off a 13-2 run in building a 30-18 lead en route to their 31st NCAA Tournament win in 31 games on their home floor.

W. Kentucky 88, S.F. Austin 76

Leslie Johnson scored 24 points and Danielle McCulley added 22 as Western Kentucky defeated Stephen F. Austin in Knoxville.