Summitt Ties Coaching Record

Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt’s notched win No. 879 on Sunday night, tying Dean Smith for the most victories in NCAA history.

The milestone in Summitt’s 31-year career came in a 94-43 rout of Western Carolina in an NCAA women’s tournament first-round game at Knoxville, Tenn.

“I have so much respect and admiration for Coach Smith,” Summitt said. “This is more than just a number.

“The Lady Vols that have played here have been really special. You think about all of them, they made it happen. It says that we’ve had some of the best players in the history of the game. They’re part of my family and my life, and for that I say thank you to all of them.”

The setting was the Lady Vols’ home court, Thompson-Boling Arena, where Summitt’s teams are 252-14 since it opened in 1987, and where she has never lost an NCAA game, going 45-0 there since 1982.

Summitt tops all coaches with an 86-17 NCAA tournament record.

“Her tying Dean Smith allows her legacy to move to basketball, not just women’s basketball,” said Western Carolina (18-14) Coach Kellie Jolly Harper, who had played for three Tennessee title teams from 1996-98.

Shanna Zolman matched her career high with 28 points to lead Tennessee (27-4), top-seeded in the Philadelphia Regional. The Lady Vols will play Purdue on Tuesday.

Purdue 68, New Mexico 56 -- The ninth-seeded Boilermakers (17-12) used their height advantage as 6-foot-2 Erin Lawless scored 22 points to help beat the Lobos (26-5) at Knoxville.

Temple 66, Louisiana Tech 61 -- Candice Dupree scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half at Storrs, Conn., and the sixth-seeded Owls (28-3) rallied from 13 points down to catch the Lady Techsters (20-10). Temple will play Rutgers on Tuesday.

Rutgers 62, Hartford 37 -- Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points and made five consecutive shots in an early 21-2 run to lead the Scarlet Knights (26-6) over the Jen Rizzotti-coached Hawks (22-9) in front of a hostile crowd at Storrs.

The game was played on Connecticut’s home court, where Pondexter and Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma had an ugly exchange during the Big East title game.

Ohio State 86, Holy Cross 45 -- Jessica Davenport had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the second-seeded Buckeyes (29-4) over the Crusaders (20-11) at College Park, Md. Ohio State plays Maryland on Tuesday.

Maryland 65, Wisconsin Green Bay 55 -- Shay Doron scored 26 points and sparked a 14-2 second-half run that carried the seventh-seeded Terrapins (22-9) over the Phoenix (27-4) at College Park.

CHATTANOOGA REGIONAL

Liberty 78, Penn State 70 -- The Flames (25-6) became only the fourth 13th-seeded team to win a first-round game in women’s tournament history. Liberty never trailed the Nittany Lions (19-11) after using a 16-1 run to take a 43-35 second-half lead at College Park. The Flames, who play DePaul next, made only two field goals in the final 7:59 but sank 13 free throws, including eight of their last nine.

DePaul 79, Virginia Tech 78 -- Jenni Dant made the winning shot with 4.9 seconds left to salvage a victory for the fifth-seeded Blue Demons (26-4), who had blown a 20-point lead over the Hokies (17-12) at College Park.

Arizona 72, Oklahoma 69 -- Shawntinice Polk scored inside with 38 seconds left to give the ninth-seeded Wildcats (20-11) a two-point lead, at 69-67, that they didn’t relinquish. Chelsi Welch missed a three-point shot at the buzzer for the Sooners (17-13). Arizona, led by Dee-Dee Wheeler’s 16 points, will play Louisiana State on Tuesday.

Louisiana State 70, Stetson 36 -- The top-seeded Tigers (30-2) made only 38.1% of their shots and still routed the Hatters (17-14) at Knoxville.

Duke 80, Canisius 48 -- The second-seeded Blue Devils (29-4) had a 53-30 rebounding edge over the Golden Griffins (21-10) in the win at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Boston College 65, Houston 43 -- Clare Droesch scored a season-high 23 points to lift the seventh-seeded Eagles (20-9) at Chapel Hill. The Cougars (21-9) shot only 21%. Boston College will play Duke on Tuesday.

KANSAS CITY REGIONAL

Connecticut 95, Dartmouth 47 -- The Huskies (24-7) outscored the Big Green (17-11), 42-14, in the paint in the victory at Storrs, Conn. The Huskies next play Florida State on Tuesday.

Florida State 87, Richmond 54 -- The sixth-seeded Seminoles (24-7) made 56% of their shots to coast by the Spiders (23-8) at Storrs.

TEMPE REGIONAL

North Carolina 97, Coppin State 62 -- The top-seeded Tar Heels (28-3) will next play George Washington after rolling past the Eagles (23-8) at Chapel Hill.

George Washington 60, Mississippi 57 -- The ninth-seeded Colonials (23-8) rallied from a 14-point, second-half deficit to beat the Rebels (19-11) at Chapel Hill.

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NCAA Women’s Tournament

Today’s second-round games (all times Pacific)

PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL

* Middle Tennessee State (24-8) vs. Texas Tech (23-7) at Dallas...6:30 p.m.

CHATTANOOGA REGIONAL

* Georgia (23-9) vs. Texas (22-8) at Dallas...4 p.m.

KANSAS CITY REGIONAL

* Michigan State (29-3) vs. USC (20-10) at Minneapolis...4 p.m.

* Utah (26-7) vs. Stanford (30-2) at Fresno...8:30 p.m.

* Vanderbilt (23-7) vs. Kansas State (24-7) at Seattle...8:30 p.m.

TEMPE REGIONAL

* Virginia (21-10) vs. Minnesota (25-7) at Minneapolis...6:30 p.m.

* Arizona State (23-9) vs. Notre Dame (27-5) at Fresno...6 p.m.

* Oregon (21-9) vs. Baylor (28-3) at Seattle...6 p.m.