NCAA Women’s Roundup : Montana Puts Fullerton Out Early, 82-67

Montana broke away with a 12-2 run at the end of the first half and went on to defeat Cal State Fullerton, 82-67, Wednesday night in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn.’s Western Regional women’s basketball tournament at Missoula, Mont.

Jean McNulty scored 22 points for the Grizzlies (27-3), including three baskets in the surge that gave Montana a 38-19 halftime lead.

Fullerton (21-9), which never led, made just 29% of its shots (nine of 31) in the first half.

Felicia Benson scored 19 points for the Titans, Jill Matyuch came off the bench to add 16, Gena Miller had 13 and Kathy Werth scored 12.

Shannon Cate and Lisa McLeod each had 16 points for Montana and Vicki Austin added 14.

Other highlights included:

Georgia 90, Tennessee Chattanooga 69--Lady Hardmon scored 16 of her 18 points in a second half surge as the 10th-ranked Lady Bulldogs beat the Moccasins at Athens, Ga.

After taking a 37-28 halftime lead, Georgia (23-6) built the lead to 53-35 with 15:37 left when Harmon scored seven straight points.

Marcheta Winton scored 19 points and Nancy Smith had 15 for Chattanooga (19-12).

Purdue 91, Arkansas 63--MacChelle Joseph scored 16 of her 24 points in the second half as the No. 15 Boilermakers overpowered the Razorbacks at West Lafayette, Ind.

Joy Holmes added 22 points for Purdue (24-5), which scored the first four points of the second half to take a 42-29 lead and never was threatened.

Amber Nicholas and Robyn Irwin scored 12 points each for Arkansas (22-8).

St. Joseph’s 82, Vanderbilt 68--Kim Foley had 35 points and 13 rebounds, and Dale Hodges added 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Lady Hawks outclassed the Lady Commodores at Philadelphia.

Deborah Denton scored with 1:46 left to bring Vanderbilt within eight at 76-68, but St. Joseph’s (23-7), which plays at seventh-ranked Cal State Long Beach in the second round, ran off the last six points.

Freshman Lisa King scored 27 points for Vanderbilt (21-8).

Oklahoma State 93, Miami (Fla.) 69--Clinette Jordan scored 34 points, and Oklahoma State trounced the Hurricanes at Stillwater, Okla.

After Miami (21-8) pulled to within 46-41, Jordan and Liz Brown combined for 16 points and Oklahoma State (20-11) pulled away with a 20-6 surge.

Oklahoma State will play top-seeded Louisiana Tech Friday at Ruston, La.

Frances Savage and Elaine Harlow scored 21 points each for Miami.

Althea Cox added 14 points for Oklahoma State.