COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA TOURNAMENT: THE FIRST ROUND : WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Close Leads UC Santa Barbara Past BYU, 88-79

Cori Close had 21 points and eight assists Wednesday night, leading UC Santa Barbara to an 88-79 victory over Brigham Young in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Goleta.

Anna McConnell had 19 points and Lauren Goldstine added 15 points for the Gouchos (19-11), who won the Big West Conference tournament last weekend after finishing third during the regular season.

Nikki Eyre led Brigham Young (24-5) with 23 points and seven rebounds. The Gauchos outscored the Cougars, 29-17, to start the second half.

Kesha Martin scored 13 points as California (19-9) defeated No. 24-ranked Kansas, 62-47, at Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks (21-9) shot 20% in the second half. . . . Nafeesah Brown scored a personal-best 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as No. 22-ranked Nebraska (23-7) overpowered San Diego, 81-58, at Lincoln, Neb. Chris Enger, the nation’s leading shot-blocker, led San Diego (16-12) with 15 points and four blocks. . . . Rhonda Smith scored 20 of her 24 points in the second half as Washington (17-11) posted an 80-51 victory over Montana State (22-7) at Seattle. . . . Georgia (21-12) advanced with an 85-68 victory over San Diego State (19-9) at Athens, Ga.

EAST

Vermont’s 28-game winning streak ended when Rutgers (22-8) dealt the Catamounts their first loss of the season, 80-74, at Burlington, Vt. Vermont (28-1) also went unbeaten during the regular season in 1991-92 before losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Catamounts had set an NCAA record with 52 consecutive victories. . . . Florida (19-9) posted a 69-67 victory over Bowling Green (25-4) at Bowling Green, Ohio. . . . Georgetown defeated Northern Illinois, 76-74, at Washington.

MIDEAST

Yolanda Watkins scored 25 points and Betsy Harris 21 as Alabama (22-8) routed Southern Conference champion Georgia Southern, 102-70, at Tuscaloosa, Ala. Georgia Southern is 21-9. . . . Northwestern (20-8) advanced with a 90-62 victory over Georgia Tech (16-11) at Evanston, Ill. . .Old Dominion (22-7) routed Tennessee Tech, 77-60, at Norfolk, Va. Tennessee Tech is 22-7. . . . Louisville (19-11) posted a 74-71 victory over Connecticut at Storrs, Conn.

MIDWEST

Senior Tonya Baucom scored a career-high 32 points and Melody Howard added 28 as Southwest Missouri State (22-8) posted an 86-71 victory over Oklahoma State (23-9) at Springfield, Mo. Clemson advanced with a 70-64 victory over Xavier (Ohio) at Clemson, S.C.