North Carolina's Deja Kelly talks to head coach Courtney Banghart during Friday's NCAA tourney game in Albany, N.Y. (AP photo)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Deja Kelly took away two big things after No. 8 seed North Carolina — coached by former Souhegan and Dartmouth standout Courtney Banghart — held off a late run by No. 9 seed Michigan State to start the NCAA Tournament with a victory for a third straight season.

“First, I need to make my damn free throws, so start with that,” Kelly said as the Tar Heels survived in a 59-56 victory Friday. “But I think a lot of maturity showed.”

Kelly hit two of four foul shots in the last five seconds and pulled down a critical rebound. Alyssa Ustby had 16 points and 17 rebounds, no board bigger than collecting Kelly’s final foul line miss with 3.2 seconds left as the Tar Heels ran out the clock.

Michigan State, down by 16 early and still trailing 54-42 with 3:22 to play, used a 14-3 run to get within a point after Theryn Hallock’s 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds left.

North Carolina could have crumbled, Kelly said, but they held on.

“The way we stayed strong and calm showed a sign of maturity,” said Kelly, who finished 3 of 10 from the foul line. “We didn’t let it rattle us.”

Maria Gakdeng also had a double-double for North Carolina with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

North Carolina will play the winner of the game between host school and No. 1 overall seed South Carolina and 16th-seeded Presbyterian, the Big South Conference champion which lost 99-29 on this floor in December.

Ustby had 10 points in the first and second quarters as North Carolina opened a 23-7 lead. Michigan State saw its best players, Julia Ayrault and Moira Joiner, each pick up three fouls in the first 20 minutes as the Tar Heels led 39-27.

“We’ll like watching the first half better than the second half,” Banghart said.

The 18,000-seat arena steadily filled up throughout the opener of the Albany 1 Regional as South Carolina fans — the team led the nation this season by averaging 16,489 people at its home games — arrived to watch the No. 1 overall seed start tournament play later Friday.

ICE CREAM BREAK

North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said her family and the family of Michigan State coach Robyn Fralick went for ice cream on Thursday night before contest. Banghart said everyone enjoyed the time despite knowing both teams would fight like crazy to win.

“But we can also have a friendship,” Banghart said.

OTHER FIRST ROUND GAMES

SOUTH CAROLINA 91, PRESBYTERIAN 39

Chloe Kitts tied her career high with 21 points on 9-of-9 shooting as No. 1 overall seed South Carolina easily overcame the absence of starters Kamilla Cardoso and Bree Hall to beat No. 16 seed Presbyterian 91-39 in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday.

The Gamecocks (33-0) moved five wins away from the 10th perfect championship season by overwhelming the Blue Hose (21-15) of the Big South Conference for a second time this season. Next comes another rematch against No. 8 seed North Carolina on Sunday. The Tar Heels gave up almost all of a 16-point lead before holding on to defeat No. 9 seed Michigan State earlier Friday.

Kitts also had a game-high 13 rebounds for her fifth double double this season. Te-Hina Paopao had 18 points and freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 17 for South Carolina, which moved to 12-0 in NCAA openers under coach Dawn Staley.

South Carolina played without Cardoso, their leading scorer, while she served a one-game suspension for her ejection for fighting last time out at the SEC Tournament finals on March 10.

ALBANY REGIONAL 1

NO. 12 OREGON STATE 73, EASTERN WASHINGTON 51

Raegan Beers had 19 points and nine rebounds before she was hurt at the end of the third quarter and third-seeded Oregon State advanced to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a victory over No. 14 Eastern Washington in Corvallis, Ore.

Oregon State (25-7) will play the winner of Friday’s late game between sixth-seeded Nebraska and No. 11 Texas A&M. The winner of Sunday’s game will head to the Sweet Sixteen in Albany, New York.

Beers, who was averaging 17.7 points an 10.4 rebounds this season, fell to the court as time expired in the third quarter, clutching her right ankle and crying in pain. The 6-foot-4 forward was able to stand on her own and limped to the locker room. She later returned to the bench but did not play again.

Dominika Paurova added 17 points for the Beavers, who trailed early but took control of the game in the second quarter and led by as many as 25 points in front of a packed-orange-clad home crowd.

Jamie Loera had 21 points for the Eagles (29-6), who won the Big Sky conference tournament to earn just their second NCAA Tournament appearance.

ALBANY REGIONAL 2

NO. 8 LSU 70, RICE 60

Angel Reese had 10 points and 19 rebounds, and third-seeded LSU overcame a feisty performance by No. 14 seed Rice for a victory in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament in Baton Rouge.

Aneesah Morrow added 15 points, while Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams each scored 14 for the defending national champion Tigers (29-5), who had a hard time putting the away the Owls (19-15), in no small part because they committed a season-high 24 turnovers.

Rice surprisingly got into the NCAA Tournament by winning four straight in the American Athletic tournament after having lost their last five regular season games. And they didn’t make anything easy on LSU, which didn’t lead by more than 11 all game and was up by just six after Maya Bokunewicz’s left side 3 and Sussy Ngulefac’s layup made it 62-56 with 1:56 left.

Destiny Jackson scored 15 and Malia Fisher had 13 points and three steals for Rice. Ngulefac and Emily Klaczek each scored 10 points.

NO. 15 KANSAS STATE 78, PORTLAND 65

Gabby Gregory had 22 points and Ayoka Lee scored 21 to lead Kansas State to a win over Portland in the first round in Manhattan, Kan.

The fourth-seeded Wildcats built a big first-half lead and then kept the No. 13 seed Pilots at an arm’s reach the rest of the game. They led 40-28 at halftime.

K-State will face Colorado on Sunday in the second round.

Serena Sundell added 16 points for Kansas State (26-7).

Portland (21-13) was led by Maisie Burnham, who had 17 of her 21 points in the second half. The Pilots also got 12 points from Kianna Hamilton-Fisher.

NO. 17 COLORADO 86, DRAKE 72

Aaronette Vonleh had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead fifth-seeded Colorado to a victory over 12th-seed Drake in the first round in Manhattan, Kan.

The Buffaloes will face fourth-seeded Kansas State in the second round Sunday.

Colorado (23-9) also got 16 points from Jaylyn Sherrod and Kindyll Wetta, and Maddie Nolan had 12. The Buffs held a 39-18 advantage on the boards.

Drake (29-6) got 24 points from Katie Dinnebier. Courtney Becker added 14 and Taylor McAulay had 13.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE 71, NO. 23 LOUISVILLE 69

Savannah Wheeler scored 20 of her 22 points in the second half, and No. 11 seed Middle Tennessee overcame an 18-point, second quarter deficit to defeat sixth-seeded Louisville in Baton Rouge.

Jalynn Gregory scored 24 for MTSU (30-4), which won its 20th straight game and has not lost since falling to Grand Canyon on Dec. 30. The Blue Raiders matched the third largest comeback in the opening rounds in tournament history.

Center Anastasiia Boldyreva had 11 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Blue Raiders, who advanced to the second round of the tournament for the fifth time and first since 2007.

MTSU will play Sunday against No. 3 seed LSU.

Olivia Cochran had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Nina Rickards scored 12 points for Louisville (24-10), which nearly came back from an eight-point deficit in the final two minutes. The Cardinals had advance to five straight regional finals before this season.

PORTLAND REGIONAL 3

NO. 7 OHIO STATE 80, MAINE 57

Jacy Sheldon had 19 points and three other Ohio State players scored in double figures as the Buckeyes ran away from Maine in an opening game of the womens’ NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

The bigger and faster Buckeyes (26-5) swarmed Maine (24-10) with a stifling press, forcing 22 turnovers. Second-seeded Ohio State advances to play Duke on Sunday.

Cotie McMahon scored 13 for Ohio State, and Celeste Taylor and Taylor Thierry each added 12. Sheldon scored her 2,000th career point with a layup late in the first half.

Anne Simon led Maine with 25 points and Olivia Rockwood had 15.

NO. 13 VIRGINIA TECH 92, MARSHALL 49

Matilda Ekh scored 21 points to lead No. 13 Virginia Tech to a victory over Marshall in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies won without star center Elizabeth Kitley, who is out for the tournament with a torn ACL.

Ekh connected on 6 of 9 from the floor and hit five 3-pointers for the Hokies (25-7), who set a school record by winning their 26th consecutive game at Cassell Coliseum.

Starting in place of Kitley, Clara Strack had 17 points and Carleigh Wenzel added 13 for Virginia Tech, which never trailed.

Abby Beeman scored 12 points for Marshall (26-7), which saw its 10-game winning streak snapped.

NO. 19 BAYLOR 80, VANDERBILT 63

Bella Fontleroy scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lift fifth-seeded Baylor to a victory over No. 12 Vanderbilt in the first round in Blacksburg, Va.

Fontleroy hit 6 of 12, including four 3-pointers, for the Bears (25-7), who broke open a close game at halftime with a dominating third quarter in winning for the seventh time in their past eight games.

Sarah Andrews added 13 points, and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 11 for Baylor.

Iyana Moore led the Commodores (23-10) with 15 points, but made just 3 of 14 from the floor.

Baylor, making its 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, led 41-34 at halftime, but shot 61.1% (11 of 18) and outscored the Commodores 28-15 in the third quarter. The Bears held Vanderbilt to just one field goal in the final 6:32 of the quarter.

DUKE 72, RICHMOND 61

Reigan Richardson scored 25 points and had seven rebounds as Duke rallied in the second half to overtake Richmond in Columbus.

No. 7 seed Duke (21-11) advances to play Ohio State on Sunday, following the Buckeyes’ 80-57 rout of Maine in a first-round contest earlier in the day..

The Blue Devils battled back from a nine-point deficit at halftime, going ahead 42-41 with 4:42 left in the third quarter and never relinquishing the lead again.

Ashlon Jackson added 14 points and Kennedy Brown had 10 for Duke.

Grace Townsend led Richmond (29-6) with 18 points, Addie Budnik had 17 and Maggie Doogan added 15.

PORTLAND REGIONAL 4

NO. 4 TEXAS 82, DREXEL 42

Shaylee Gonzales scored 21 points, Taylor Jones added 18 and No. 1 seed Texas beat No. 16 Drexel in the first round in Austin, Tex,

Gonzales converted 5 of 6 3-point attempts while matching her season-high in scoring. Jones hit 7 of 11 shots inside for the Longhorns, who have won 13 of their last 14 games.

Drexel (19-15) had only one starter taller than 6 feet — 6-2 Hedda Staatman. Texas (31-4), rotating four post players who are between 6-1 and 6-4 most of the game, outscored Drexel 44-18 in the paint and 22-6 on second-chance points thanks to a 26-10 edge in offensive rebounding.

Texas’ dominance inside eventually resulted in open 3-pointers for Gonzales. She made three in the third third quarter without missing.

Freshman Madison Booker had a season-best 14 assists for Texas, and DeYona Gaston had 11 points and 10 rebounds — eight on offense. Guard Shay Holle had seven rebounds, four blocks, three steals.

Amaris Baker led Drexel with 10 points. The Dragons shot 35% and committed 21 turnovers.

ALABAMA 82, FLORIDA STATE 74

Freshman Essence Cody had season highs with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 8 seed Alabama defeated No. 9 Florida State in Austin.

Working inside, the 6-foot-4 Cody more than doubled her average of eight points a game. She also blocked four shots.

Cody made a layup on a pick-and-roll to give Alabama (24-9) a 74-69 lead with 2:33 left.

O’Mariah Gordon quickly countered with a 3-pointer for Florida State (23-11), but Aaliyah Nye — who finished with 18 points — made a 3 of her own for Alabama with 1:21 remaining.

Alabama, which shot 5 of 6 from the foul line in the final 44 seconds, will face No. 1 seed Texas on Sunday.

Ta’Niya Latson led Florida State (23-11) with 25 points and five assists. Makayla Timpson had 23 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.

IOWA STATE 93, MARYLAND 86

Freshman Audi Crooks scored a career-high 40 points on 18-for-20 shooting in her sensational NCAA Tournament debut, and No. 7-seed Iowa State hit all the big shots in the second half to rally from 20 points down and beat 10th-seeded Maryland in Stanford, Cal.

The 20-point comeback marked the second-largest all-time in an NCAA Tournament game trailing only Texas A&M overcoming a 21-point deficit to beat Penn in 2017.

Emily Ryan knocked down a key 3-pointer with 6:06 remaining and finished with 18 points while dishing out 14 assists as Iowa State (21-11) kept pounding the ball inside to the ever-reliable Crooks — even when it led to a handful of late turnovers.

Crooks, the program’s first freshman to earn AP All-America honors with her honorable mention selection this week, came in leading the team averaging 18.9 points and 7.7 rebounds and became the 16th player to score 40 or more this season. She had 12 rebounds against Maryland (19-14).

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