Sooners start slow, but roll in opener

ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER -- Courtney Paris couldn't get the ball, fumbled it away against a double team once she finally did, then headed off down a tunnel holding her hip. She returned after a few minutes, re-entered the game and promptly sent a Pepperdine defender flying across the lane, scoring with ease.
The rout was on.
Paris had her way inside for 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Oklahoma overcame a sluggish start to open the NCAA tournament with 78-66 victory over Pepperdine Saturday in the San Antonio Regional.
Britney Brown added 11 points and six assists, and Oklahoma (30-4) reached 30 wins for the second time in school history to move on to Monday's second round against BYU.
The Sooners made the first perfect run (16-0) through the Big 12 in the conference's 10-year history and tied a school record with a 17-game winning streak to end the regular season, thanks in large part to Paris.
The freshman sensation used her size and a beyond-her-18-years understanding of the game to dominate her first season of college basketball, setting 36 school records and ending the regular season three rebounds shy of becoming the first player in NCAA history to have 700 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a season.
The Sooners had trouble getting the ball to Paris in the post early against Pepperdine (14-17), forcing passes and looking away when she was double-teamed. But once Paris got the ball, the Waves had no chance.
Though an inch shorter at 6-foot-3, Paris used her strength to bull past Pepperdine's Teiosha George inside, forcing her into tough shots and repeatedly sealing her off at the other end, leading to numerous easy baskets.
BYU 67, Iowa 62
DENVER -- Ambrosia Anderson scored 20 points and BYU used its post play early to open up the perimeter as the Cougars won their first NCAA tournament game in four years.
Megan Skouby led Iowa (17-12) with 19 points, and Crystal Smith added 17.
BYU (26-5) centers Dani Kubik and Lauren Riley played in foul trouble most of the first half, and fouled out in the second during a 9-0 run by Iowa that cut the Cougars lead to 54-47.
Anderson ended the spurt when she fought for a pass down low and kicked it out to Melinda Johnsen, who hit a 3-pointer from the left side to give BYU a 57-47 advantage with just under five minutes left.