TODAY’S GAMES : Montana Will Be First Test for Third-Seeded Trojans

There was, at least, one satisfied team when the NCAA women’s basketball tournament pairings were released last Sunday. The USC women’s team looked at its position in the draw--third seeded in the West--and believed it finally received some well-deserved recognition.

“I’m happy where we are,” said 6-foot-5 center Lisa Leslie, who leads the Trojans in scoring (20.8 points) and rebounding (8.2).

“Coach (Marianne) Stanley said we couldn’t have even made our own bracket any better than that.”

USC (21-7) will play Montana (23-6) in a second-round game today at 5 p.m. at Lyon Center. The Grizzlies are led by 6-1 forward Shannon Cate, the Big Sky Conference’s all-time leading scorer. Cate, who has suffered a dislocated shoulder six times this season, scored 34 points during Montana’s victory over Wisconsin in the first round.

The No. 23-ranked Trojans have won 13 of their last 15 games and are 9-3 in games decided by five or fewer points. But Leslie says they have not played their best game yet.

“No, not really,” she said. “Sometimes, we’ve had really good games. We’ve played good basketball, but we need to be consistent in each half.

“With the tournament, I think our level of play will rise a little higher.”

Facing a potentially more difficult task is UCLA (20-9), which will play No. 19 Texas at Austin in a Midwest Regional game. Texas (21-9) has lost only two of its last 16 games, the most recent coming to Texas Tech in the final of the Southwest Conference tournament.

There are five other second-round games, including top-ranked Virginia (29-1) opening its NCAA championship bid against visiting George Washington (25-6). The Cavaliers, undefeated since losing to Maryland at home, could play three consecutive games at their home court; the East Regional semifinals and final also will be in Charlottesville.

“To other people, who are on the outside looking in, it is an unfair advantage,” Virginia Coach Debbie Ryan said. “Having your fans there at the regional sites is an advantage. But right now, the NCAA is looking at the financial picture. Having the sites off by themselves is a little too difficult right now to fund this tournament.”

The other game in the East is No. 20 Clemson (21-9) at No. 14 West Virginia (25-3). West Virginia has forced 23.6 turnovers per game.

Purdue (22-6), ranked No. 11, will play host to Northern Illinois (18-13) in the Midwest Regionals. Northern Illinois upset Louisiana Tech, 77-71, during the first round.

In the other Midwest game, No. 10 Southwest Missouri State (28-2) will play at No. 7 Iowa (25-3). The winner will play UCLA or Texas in the semifinals of the Midwest Regional on Thursday at Boulder, Colo.

The second West game has No. 21 Creighton (28-3) at No. 4 Stephen F. Austin (27-2). The winner will play USC or Montana in the West Regional semifinals at Seattle on Thursday.

Creighton relied on the three-pointer for its 79-66 first-round victory over Cal State Long Beach, making seven of 13.