Repella, Miles pace No. 3 seed West Virginia past No. 14 Lamar, 58-43

No. 3 seed West Virginia beats No. 14 Lamar, 58-43

AUSTIN, Texas — West Virginia simply had too much for Lamar to handle.

Too much size, too much rebounding and too much of just about anything Sarah Miles wanted to do.

Miles had 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals and No. 3-seed West Virginia bolted to a big lead before cruising to a 58-43 win over No. 14-seed Lamar on Sunday night in the first round of the Memphis Regional.

Liz Repella chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Mountaineers (29-5) dominated the rebounding 48-28 and pushed around much smaller Lamar the entire game. Lamar (26-8) started three players under 6-feet in its first NCAA tournament game since 1991.

West Virginia never trailed and raced to a 19-3 lead that all but settled the game early. The Mountaineers advanced to the second round Tuesday night against No. 11 seed San Diego State (22-10), which beat No. 6 Texas 74-63..

Defensively, West Virginia held Lamar’s 5-2 point guard Jenna Plumley, an Oklahoma transfer and Southland Conference player of the year, to nine points on 3 of 11 shooting before she fouled out. Plumley had made 6 3-pointers for the Sooners in a tournament game on the same court in 2007.

Although most fans had cleared out after host Texas lost earlier in the night, Miles still had a solid cheering section of more than two dozen family members, friends and former coaches who made the 75-mile drive up from San Antonio, her hometown. Sunday night was the first time her family was able to see her play in person.

With all those eyes watching, Miles was sharp with her drives to the basket and passing. If not for some sloppy play by her teammates, 23 turnovers and 38 percent shooting, the Mountaineers could have really poured it on.

West Virginia forced 21 Lamar turnovers and outscored the Lady Cardinals in the paint 34-14.

Kalis Loyd scored 15 points for Lamar, but the Lady Cardinals needed Plumley to get their offense untracked. Miles and the Mountaineers wouldn’t let it happen. Plumley was 1 of 5 in the first half with five turnovers.

West Virginia let Lamar back in the game with its own turnovers. Several in the first half keyed a run that pulled the Lady Cardinals within 30-21 before Repella swished a 3-pointer with 7 seconds left.

West Virginia’s shooting struggles continued in the second, but the Mountaineers just kept gobbling up the missed shots for second chances.

West Virginia never let up defensively. When Vanessa House stole a pass from Plumley, she quickly pushed the ball to Miles to finish the fast break for a 48-30 lead with 7:16 to play.