NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament : Roundup : Ohio State Beats James Madison; Long Beach Is Next

Nikita Lowry scored 27 points and had 15 rebounds to lead 14th-ranked Ohio State past James Madison, 81-66, Sunday in a second-round National Collegiate Athletic Assn. East Regional game at Columbus, Ohio.

With the victory, Ohio State advances to the regional semifinals against Cal State Long Beach Thursday at Bowling Green, Ky.

The Buckeyes (24-5) never trailed. They led, 28-18, but the Dukes cut it to 30-26 by halftime.

Ohio State went on an 11-0 run in the second half, taking a 54-40 lead after Lowry made a jump shot with 8:36 left.

James Madison never came closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Missy Dudley led the Dukes (26-4) with 22 points, and Carolin Dehn-Duhr added 18.

Virginia 81, West Virginia 68--Tonya Cardoza scored 26 points to help the Cavaliers beat the Moutaineers at Charlottesville, Va., and advance to the East Regional semifinals.

Virginia (21-9) will meet No. 1-ranked Tennessee Thursday at Bowling Green.

It will be the Cavaliers’ fourth tournament game against Tennessee in the last five years. Tennessee has won all three previous meetings, including an 84-76 victory in last season’s East Regional final.

West Virginia, which eliminated Western Kentucky in the first round of the tournament, finished 24-8.

Jenny Hillen led West Virginia with 21 points. Dawn Staley had 20 for Virginia.

LSU 54, Purdue 53--Dana Chatman scored five of the Louisiana State’s last six points to lead the unranked Tigers back from a 14-point deficit and past the No. 15 Boilermakers in the second round of the Midwest Regional at West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue didn’t score during the final 3:16 as LSU rallied from a 53-48 deficit.

The Tigers (19-10) next play Louisiana Tech.

Purdue finished 24-6.

Chatman made a running 12-footer in the lane with 36 seconds left for the game-winner. MaChelle Joseph, who led Purdue with 14 points, missed a 15-footer with 26 seconds left and then fouled LSU’s DeeDee Franklin as she went for the rebound. Franklin missed the free throw, but the ball went out of bounds and to LSU.

Louisiana Tech 103, Oklahoma St. 78--Venus Lacy had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead the No. 3 Techsters past the Cowboys in a Midwest Regional second-round game at Ruston, La.

Tech (30-3) advanced to a regional semifinal at Ruston Thursday against LSU.

Oklahoma State ended its season 20-12.

Nora Lewis added 23 points and 12 rebounds to help Tech achieve its third straight season of 30 or more victories. Tech’s 26-5 tournament record is the best in women’s basketball.

Liz Brown scored 25 points to lead Oklahoma State.

Auburn 88, Temple 54--Vickie Orr scored 27 points and had 16 rebounds to lead the No. 2 Tigers over the Owls at Auburn, Ala., in the second round of the Mideast Regional.

Auburn (29-1) will face Clemson Thursday. Temple, which finished at 22-10, got 21 points from Karen Healy.

Mississippi 74, Old Dominion 58--Cynthia Autry had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rebels over the Monarchs at Oxford, Miss., in the second round of the Mideast Regional.

No. 12 Ole Miss (22-7) next plays North Carolina State at Auburn. This marks the sixth consecutive year the Rebels have advanced to the 16-team semifinal round.

Old Dominion, ranked 20th, finished 23-9.