It’s Smith’s turn to help Stanford

Stanford protected its home court -- and the Cardinal didn’t even need a huge day from star Candice Wiggins.

Brooke Smith made her first 10 shots on the way to a season-high 29 points, and the Cardinal advanced to the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament with a 96-58 victory over Idaho State on Saturday.

Smith and Cissy Pierce immediately took the pressure off Wiggins, scoring their team’s first 22 points to help second-seeded Stanford (29-4) jump to a big first-half lead it never relinquished and set up a second-round matchup in the Fresno Regional with Florida State, which beat Old Dominion, 85-75.

Wiggins finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Smith made 13 of 17 shots and also had nine rebounds and two steals.

Pierce finished with 14 points after making her first four shots in Stanford’s 10th consecutive victory. Natalie Doma scored 32 points on 12-for-25 shooting for the 15th-seeded Bengals (17-14).

Middle Tennessee 85, Gonzaga 46 -- The fifth-seeded Blue Raiders (30-3) extended the nation’s-longest winning streak to 27 games by routing the Bulldogs (24-10) at Stanford. Gonzaga committed 37 turnovers and went nearly 11 minutes without basket in the first half.

Marist 67, Ohio State 63 -- The 13th-seeded Red Foxes (28-5) upset the fourth-seeded Buckeyes (28-4) at Stanford to reach the second round for the first time in school history. Julianne Viani made three three-point baskets during an 18-5 second-half run and finished with 24 points. She made two free throws with 18.1 seconds left after Ohio State cut the lead to three.

AT AUSTIN, TEXAS

Oklahoma 74, Southeast Missouri State 60 -- When the Sooners’ biggest and best player, Courtney Paris, was struggling, it was their youngest and smallest starter who helped them win. Jenna Plumley, a 5-foot-4 freshman, made six three-point baskets and finished with 20 points to lead the third-seeded Sooners (27-4) past the 14th-seeded Redhawks (24-8). Paris had 13 points and 11 rebounds for her 59th consecutive double-double.

Marquette 87, Louisiana Lafayette 58 -- The sixth-seeded Golden Eagles (26-6) took a 30-7 lead to pull away from the 11th-seeded Rajin’ Cajuns (25-9), who were making their NCAA tournament debut.

West Virginia 65, Xavier 52 -- Olayinka Sanni scored 20 points to lead the 11th-seeded Mountaineers (21-10) to the upset over the sixth-seeded Musketeers (26-8). Sanni, who had eight rebounds, won her matchup with 6-foot-5 Amber Harris, who is four inches taller. Harris had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks but couldn’t stop Sanni.

Louisiana State 77, North Carolina Asheville 39 -- RaShonta LeBlanc and Quianna Chaney each scored 15 points, making all nine three-point baskets for the third-seeded Tigers (27-7). The 14th-seeded Bulldogs (21-12) committed 25 turnovers and made only 15 of 55 shots.

AT MINNEAPOLIS

Iowa State 79, Washington 60 -- The Cyclones (26-8) overcame a slow start by shutting down Huskies star Cameo Hicks early. Hicks finished with 19 points for Washington (18-13) but missed seven of her first nine shots.

Georgia 53, Belmont 36 -- The third-seeded Bulldogs (26-6) held the 14th-seeded Bruins (25-7), making their tournament debut, to one basket during the final 15:22. The two teams combined to miss 82 shots and turn the ball over 35 times.

Georgia Tech 55, DePaul 54 -- Jacqua Williams made a running one-handed shot in the lane with 2 1/2 seconds left to lift the seventh-seeded Yellow Jackets (21-11) past the 10th-seeded Blue Demons (19-13).

Purdue 63, Oral Roberts 42 -- The second-seeded Boilermakers (29-5) advanced to the second round for the 11th consecutive year by routing the 15th-seeded Golden Eagles (22-11).