NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Vanderbilt Rolls Over N. Illinois

The hostesses were downright rude to Northern Illinois, or maybe the Huskies were just poor guests.

Either way, it’s harder to argue with Vanderbilt’s being seeded No. 1 in the West than it was a few days ago because the Commodores got 19 points from Sheri Sam and routed Northern Illinois, 90-44, Friday at Nashville, Tenn.

The Huskies led, 2-0, but Vanderbilt (27-6) scored on its first 12 possessions; led, 23-4, before seven minutes had elapsed; generally embarrassed Northern Illinois (17-14) and advanced to a game against Memphis, a 74-72 winner over USC.

“Well, I guess, welcome to Top 10 basketball,” Huskies’ Coach Liz Galloway-McQuitter said. “We fought hard to get a shot and I believe we deserved to be here. I’m just disappointed we didn’t have our best foot forward today.”

MIDEAST REGIONAL

Tanja Kospic scored seven points in overtime to lead No. 21 Oregon State (21-7) to an 88-75 victory over Tennessee State (22-7) at Bowling Green, Ky., where Gwen Doyle scored 17 points to lead Western Kentucky (27-3) to a 77-63 victory over Toledo (24-7).

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Leatrice Scott’s two free throws with 3.2 seconds to play gave 11th-seeded Louisville (25-7) a 67-65 victory over sixth-seeded Oregon (18-10) at Athens, Ga. Louisville will play No. 12 Georgia (25-4), which got 22 points from La’Keshia Frett in an 81-64 victory over Indiana (19-10). . . . Darlene Saar scored 34 points as George Washington (25-5) was an 87-79 winner over DePaul (20-9) at Washington, D.C. George Washington will play Drake (25-5), which got nine points from Julie Rittgers in overtime in an 87-81 victory over Mississippi (21-8). . . . Angie Potthoff scored 16 points, and Penn State (26-4) won, 75-62, over Jackson State (22-7) at State College, Pa. Penn State will play North Carolina State (20-9), which got 17 points from Jennifer Howard in a 77-62 victory over Marquette (19-11).