Ohio State Upset by Boston College

Boston College seemed an unlikely candidate to pull the biggest upset of the NCAA tournament.

Snapping out of a late-season slump, the eighth-seeded Eagles made Ohio State the first top-seeded team to exit the NCAAs with a 79-69 victory in the second round of the Albuquerque Regional on Tuesday night at West Lafayette, Ind.

Kindyll Dorsey scored 24 points and made six three-point baskets to lead the Eagles (21-11). The Buckeyes (29-3) became the first top-seeded team eliminated in the second round since Texas Tech in 1998.

While it was a surprise to see the Buckeyes struggle, it was every bit as stunning that the Eagles managed to right themselves and reach the regional semifinals.

Boston College had lost five in a row entering the tournament, but won two games in three days at a site -- Mackey Arena -- where Ohio State has won only twice since 1994.

“That’s all we heard is we lost five in a row,� Boston College Coach Cathy Inglese said. “All we worked on was our execution on defense.�

The hard work paid off and now the Eagles will play fifth-seeded Utah on Saturday in the regional semifinal.

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Maryland 81, St. John’s 74 -- Crystal Langhorne capped a 30-point effort with two late inside baskets and the Terrapins (30-4) defeated the Red Storm (22-8) at State College, Pa.

Maryland advanced to the regional semifinals after losing in the second round the previous two seasons. It will play defending national champion Baylor in the regional semifinal.

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CLEVELAND REGIONAL

Rutgers 82, Texas Christian 48 -- Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points to lead the Scarlet Knights (27-4) to a victory over the Horned Frogs (19-12) in a second-round game at Trenton, N.J.

Rutgers’ win was the 750th for Coach C. Vivian Stringer in her 1,000th game spanning 34 years at Cheyney State, Iowa and Rutgers. Only Pat Summitt of Tennessee and Texas Coach Jody Conradt have more victories.

No. 6 Tennessee 66, George Washington 53 -- Shanna Zolman scored 19 points, Candace Parker had 15, and the Volunteers (30-4) started fast and led throughout in a victory over the Colonials (23-9) at Norfolk, Va.

Tennessee advanced to the semifinals of the regional against Rutgers.

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BRIDGEPORT REGIONAL

Connecticut 79, Virginia Tech 56 -- Ann Strother had 22 points, including six three-point baskets, Barbara Turner dominated inside with 18 points and 16 rebounds and the second-seeded Huskies (31-4) routed the seventh-seeded Hokies (21-10) at State College, Pa.

Georgia 73, Hartford 54 -- Sherill Baker scored 26 points and Tasha Humphrey had 24 to help the Bulldogs (23-8) blow the game open in the second half and defeat the Hawks (27-4) in a second-round game at Trenton, N.J.