Lady Monarchs Beat Liberty, Advance to NCAA Second Round

The Lady Monarchs cruised to an 82-62 win against Liberty University in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament and will face second-round opponent University of Virginia at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Constant Center.

Senior Shahida Williams scored 20 points and senior Megan Pym blocked seven shots and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead 5th seeded ODU. The 12th seeded Liberty Flames jumped to an early lead, but a scrappy Monarch defense took control midway through the first half.

In other first-round games at the Constant Center, it was U.Va. over UC Santa Barbara 86-52, North Carolina over Bucknell 85-50 and Georgia over Iowa 67-61.

The Lady Monarchs' match up with U.Va. on Tuesday will come one day after the ODU men travel to Charlottesville for a 7 p.m. meeting Monday, March 24, with U.Va. in the second round of the College Basketball Invitational.