03/21/26 03:50:00
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03/21 15:49 CDT Morgan and Hassett lead Kentucky to 71-56 win vs. James Madison
in women's NCAA Tournament 1st round
Morgan and Hassett lead Kentucky to 71-56 win vs. James Madison in women's NCAA
Tournament 1st round
By JOHN RABY
AP Sports Writer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) --- Tonie Morgan had 18 points and Amelia Hassett scored
11 of her 14 during a dominant first half to help Kentucky cruise to a 71-56
victory over James Madison in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament on
Saturday.
Clara Strack had her 15th double-double of the season for the Wildcats (24-10),
the No. 5 seed in the Fort Worth region, who advanced to play either No. 4 seed
West Virginia or No. 13 Miami (Ohio) in the second round on Monday.
Strack, a 6-foot-5 center who averages a double-double this season, had 10
points and 14 rebounds for the Wildcats. Jordan Obi added 12 points.
Ashanti Barnes scored 16 and Peyton McDaniel added 15 points for the
12th-seeded Dukes (26-9). The Sun Belt Conference Tournament champs saw their
12-game winning streak snapped.
James Madison used a sagging zone defense in the paint or a double-team on
Strack in an attempt to slow down the Wildcats, but that left Strack's
teammates open for easy shots.
The taller Wildcats worked the ball inside for easy baskets and made things
tough on the defensive end of the court. Kentucky blocked eight shots and
limited James Madison to 29% shooting in the first half and 34% for the game.
Seven different Kentucky players scored in the first quarter, led by Hassett's
eight points in the first three minutes. Kentucky used a 19-2 run to lead 32-10
after the first quarter before cooling off. Kentucky finished the half missing
12 of its final 13 shots but still led 43-18 at halftime.
James Madison chipped away at what once was a 29-point deficit but got no
closer than the final margin.
Up next
Kentucky will look to advance to the Sweet 16 on Monday for the first time
since 2016. The Wildcats have lost the last four times they played in the
second round.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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