Lucas scores 25 as Lady Lions claim their opener

STATE COLLEGE — Maggie Lucas scored 25 points and No. 8 Penn State's pressure defense sparked a late first-half run to take control in a 72-61 win Sunday over Howard in the season opener.

The Lady Lions finished the first half on a 14-0 run after forcing turnovers on six straight Howard possessions. Lucas and backcourt mate Alex Bentley poked balls away for steals for easy transition buckets to help Penn State turn a six-point deficit with 4:42 left into a 39-31 lead at the half.

Bentley finished with 14 points and seven steals — six in the first half.

STORRS, Conn. — Freshman Breanna Stewart scored 21 points in her college debut Sunday as No. 2 Connecticut routed the College of Charleston to win its 17th consecutive season opener.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Chiney Ogwumike scored 22 points, Joslyn Tinkle added 19 and Stanford beat rival county Santa Clara.

Amber Orrange matched her career high with 18 points for the Cardinal (2-0), who had a much easier time of it in their second game of the year.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Shoni Schimmel had 16 points to lead Louisville past Portland.

Bria Smith scored 15, Sheronne Vails had 13 and freshman Megan Deines added 12. Shawnta' Dyer scored 10 for Louisville (2-0).

ATHENS, Ga. — Khaalidah Miller's 12 points led a balanced scoring effort and Georgia opened the season with a win over Rutgers.

Three of Miller's teammates scored 10 points apiece: Anne Marie Armstrong, Jasmine James and Jasmine Hassell.

DOVER, Del. — Sugar Rodgers scored 35 points and recorded five steals as Georgetown stunned Delaware in the second round of the preseason WNIT.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Shenneika Smith scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as St. John's bounced back from an opening-game loss to defeat Central Florida.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Jordan Hooper scored 12 points, leading a balanced Nebraska offense, and the Cornhuskers had no trouble with Temple.

ATLANTA — Bashaara Graves scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds Sunday, and fellow Tennessee forward Cierra Burdick added 16 points as the Lady Volunteers beat Georgia Tech to spoil the Yellow Jackets' debut in McCamish Pavilion.