March S[imulation]adness Round 1 results: Maryland romps, FGCU wins

COLLEGE PARK, MD - FEBRUARY 09: Diamond Miller #14 of the Maryland Terrapins handles the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Xfinity Center on February 9, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - FEBRUARY 09: Diamond Miller #14 of the Maryland Terrapins handles the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Xfinity Center on February 9, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)

A strong start for the Terrapins

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Diamond Miller wasn’t about to let her Maryland Terrapins bow out early in this, her first NCAA Tournament.

The freshman sensation scored a career-high 21 points as Maryland, the top seed in the Fort Wayne region, more than held serve, defeating 16 seed Cal Poly, 89-37 in the first round of the March Sadness NCAA Tournament.

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The win pushes the Terrapins into the second round where they will face eight seed Drake in College Park. The Bulldogs made quick work of nine seed Virginia Tech, 89-73, with Becca Hittner refusing to let her college career end quietly, notching 35 points in the victory.

Down in the Corvallis pod, five seed South Dakota took care of 12 seed IUPUI, the latter making its first trip to the NCAA Tournament, thanks to 14 points and eight assists from Ciara Duffy. That earns the Coyotes, who entered the tournament with the second-best offensive efficiency in the country, a date with host four seed Oregon State, who held off 13 seed Coastal Carolina, 78-61, thanks to a customary Mikayla Pivec performance — 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Down in Starkville, the higher seeds also prevailed. Three seed Mississippi State, powered by 28 points and 11 rebounds from Rickea Jackson, beat 14 seed Boise State, 82-63. That sets up the Bulldogs for a game against six seed Ohio State, who got 24 points from Dorka Juhasz, including five threes on six attempts, in a 69-61 defeat of 11 seed Western Kentucky.

“I’m really excited about how Dorka is playing right now,” Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff told High Post Hoops following the win. “People are really getting a chance to see her versatility. She’s incredibly efficient around the basket but has really improved her three-point shooting and you could certainly see that tonight.”

Down in Louisville, the two seed Cardinals took care of business, beating 15 seed Radford, 81-55. Kylie Shook led the way with 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. That earned them a shot at home against seven seed Florida Gulf Coast, who edged out 10 seed Creighton, 71-60, behind eight threes and 35 points from Davion Wingate.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

1 Maryland 89 Cal Poly 37
8 Drake 79 9 Virginia Tech 73
5 South Dakota 78 IUPUI 67 Ciara Duffy
4 Oregon State 78, Coastal Carolina 61
6 Ohio State 69, Western Kentucky 61
3 Mississippi State 82, 14 Boise St. 63
7 FGCU 71, 10 Creighton 60
2 Louisville 81, 15 Radford 55

SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE

1 Maryland vs. 8 Drake

4 Oregon State vs. 5 South Dakota

3 Mississippi State vs. 6 Ohio State

2 Louisville vs. 7 FGCU

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