Hurricanes Roll in Season Opener

CORAL GABLES - The University of Miami women's basketball team (1-0) opened their regular season with a crushing 91-42 victory over the Norfolk State Spartans (0-1) at the BankUnited Center on Youth Day, Friday afternoon, in front of a crowd of almost 1,600 fans.

The Hurricanes were firing on all cylinders for the entire 40 minutes as they scored 45 points in the opening half and 46 in the second. Senior Latoya Drake poured in a game and career-high 22 points, 13 coming before the break.

In that opening period, Drake went 6-7 from the field and was the beneficiary of many of LaToya Cunningham's six assists. For the game, Cunningham matched her career-high with nine assists to go along with her 11 points. The senior captain also added a pair of three-point baskets.

Clutch play helps Tech hang on for 59-53 win over UNCG

BLACKSBURG, Va. – After struggling with her shot for most of the night, Virginia Tech’s Lindsay Biggs pulled through with six points over the final 1:47 to help the Hokie women’s basketball team hang on for a 59-53 victory over UNC Greensboro in its season opener on Friday night.

It was a too-close-for-comfort ending to a game that saw the Hokies jump out to a 10-0 advantage to start the contest on the way to leading by as many as 22 late in the first half. But Tech came through in the end when it mattered, which is something that it had trouble with last season.

The Hokies held the Spartans (0-1) to single digits until the 6:50 mark of the first half and took a 37-19 lead into the locker room, but the tables were turned in the second stanza. UNCG slowly chipped away at the bulge as Tech went cold from the floor, shooting just 26.7 percent from the field (0-of-5 from 3-point land) in the second period. The Spartans’ Lakiah Hyson hit a pair of free throws at 4:16 to cut Tech’s lead to three at 51-48, and the Hokies clung to that lead for nearly two minutes as the teams went scoreless.

Jackets Cruise Past Troy, 73-49, in Season Opener

ATLANTA - Alex Montgomery scored 20 points to lead the Georgia Tech women's basketball team past Troy, 73-49, in the Yellow Jackets season opener at Alexander Memorial Coliseum Friday evening.

Montgomery, a sophomore from Tacoma, Wash., finished seven-of-13 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Sophomore Iasia Hemingway added 15 points and four boards for the Jackets. Senior Jacqua Williams registered five steals, extending her personal streak to 40 straight games with at least one.

The Yellow Jackets received some big contributions from freshmen. Mo Bennett finished with eight points and seven boards, while Sasha Goodlett scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds from the starting lineup.

Black Leads Duke To 77-68 Win Over Oklahoma State

DURHAM, N.C. – Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley controlled the game before halftime, but it was Duke's Chante Black who took over in the decisive second half.

Black scored 18 of her career-high 28 points after the break as No. 8 Duke rallied to beat No. 14 Oklahoma State 77-68 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Riley scored 20 of her 29 points in helping to give the Cowgirls a 44-35 halftime lead, but the Blue Devils ripped off a 20-0 run early in the second to seize control of the game. Black, who was 13-of-17 from the floor and grabbed 10 rebounds, contributed 10 points, two blocked shots and a behind-the-back assist during the spurt.

Carrem Gay added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Blue Devils, who won their 18th consecutive home opener. Abby Waner and Jasmine Thomas also scored 10 points.

North Carolina Rolls Past Western Carolina 90-55

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP)--North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell was pleased with the Tar Heels' fast start in their season opener Friday night. She just wants them to keep it up for the whole game.

Cetera DeGraffenreid and Italee Lucas each scored 14 points and No. 6 North Carolina beat Western Carolina 90-56 in the opening round of the Women's Preseason National Invitation Tournament.

Jessica Breland added 12 points for the Tar Heels, who opened with a 23-2 run and led 57-32 at halftime. They shot 50 percent.

North Carolina extended its lead to 30 on Breland's 3-pointer with just over 12 minutes remaining, but Hatchell felt her team relaxed after its impressive start.

No. 15 Virginia Opens With 78-48 Win Over High Point

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 15 Virginia women’s basketball team kicked off its 2008-09 season Friday night with a dominating 78-48 win over High Point at John Paul Jones Arena. Five Cavaliers scored in double figures, led by freshman Ariana Moorer’s 19 points.

Virginia forced 37 turnovers in the game, including 20 in the first half. Moorer and Monica Wright each had seven steals as the Cavaliers racked up 20 steals in the game. The Cavaliers also out-rebounded High Point, 52-34.

Wright finished with 16 points, while freshman Whitny Edwards had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Aisha Mohammed also had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman Chelsea Shine chipped in 10 points.

UVa’s freshman class of Moorer, Whitny Edwards, Shine and Britny Edwards had a strong start, combining for 43 points, 22 rebounds, nine steals and six assists.

BC Women's Basketball Cruises, 99-68, over St. Francis

The Boston College women's basketball team opened the 2008-09 season with a 99-68 victory over St. Francis College in front of 902 fans at Conte Forum last night. The victory was the first for new Boston College head coach Sylvia Crawley, who arrived at the Heights in April.

The Eagles took the lead early and never looked back. Senior Corey Rusin and sophomore Carolyn Swords combined for 24 first half points as BC took a 47-30 lead into the locker room at the half. Rusin shot 4-for-4 from the field, including 1-for-1 from the three-point arc, while Swords shot 7-for-9 with four rebounds.

The second half was more of the same. Boston College continued to push the ball up the floor and create turnovers with its swarming defense.

Maryland Women's Basketball Falls in Opener, 80-68

TK LaFleur scored 28 points and TCU upset No. 3/5 Maryland 80-68 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

This certainly wasn't the kind of start Kristi Toliver, a preseason All-American, and the Terrapins wanted after last season when they were 33-4 and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years.

Marissa Coleman led Maryland with 15 points, and freshman Lynetta Kizer had 12 points and 15 rebounds. Toliver finished with 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting.

The Lady Frogs scored the game's first 11 points. They then opened second half with a 9-0 run, ending any thoughts of a Maryland comeback.

Lady Tigers Fall At Furman, 82-68, To Open Season On Friday Night

GREENVILLE, SC - A second-half run fell short and Furman hit 10 free throws in the closing minutes as the Clemson women's basketball team was defeated by the Paladins, 82-68, at the Timmons Arena to open the 2008-09 season on Friday night.

The Lady Tigers (0-1) were unable to overcome a 34-point performance by Furman junior Lee Stephens. Stephens scored 28 of her points in the second half on a night when she went 10-of-14 from the field an 10-of-11 from the foul line.

Lele Hardy was Clemson's leading scorer with 19 points while sophomores Kirstyn Wright and Whitney Hood also posted double figures with 12 and 11, respectively.