Fiso and Oregon use big 3rd quarter to open March Madness with 70-60 win over Virginia Tech
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Katie Fiso scored 22 points and Oregon used a dominant third quarter to pull away from Virginia Tech for a 70-60 win Friday to open the women's NCAA Tournament . Ehis Etute added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the No. 8-seed Ducks (23-12) who took control of the game with an 18-0 run in the third and advance to the second round of the tournament for the second consecutive season.
They earned a matchup with the winner of Friday's game between No. 1 Texas (31-3) and No. 16 Missouri State (23-12).
Mia Jacobs added 13 points for Oregon, Carys Baker scored 21 to lead the No. 9-seed Hokies (23-10), who shot under 30 percent over the first three quarters. Fiso and Oregon started the game by making nine of their first 11 shots and led 22-11 by the end of the first quarter.
The Hokies went more than six minutes without a field goal, and leading scorer Carleigh Wenzel went to the bench with two early fouls. Wenzel stayed out the entire second quarter, but Virginia Tech rallied to within 32-29 before Oregon closed the half with a 3-pointer by Jacobs. Etute scored seven points in the Ducks' big run in the third and Fiso hit a step-back 3-pointer when she was left at the top of the arc.
Oregon stretched the lead as high as 22 in the quarter. Wenzel, who averaged 15. 3 points, finished with nine on 2-of-12 shooting.