March 15, 2002

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Kelly Mazzante scored 26 points, and Tanisha Wright tied her career high with 19 as Penn State beat Chattanooga 82-67 Friday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Penn State will play Florida International in the second round of the Mideast Regional on Sunday,

The fourth-seeded Lady Lions (22-11) trailed 46-41 when consecutive three-point plays by Rashana Barnes and Mazzante opened a 10-0 run that put Penn State up for good.

Chattanooga (23-8) closed within 51-48 on Heather Dykes' jumper with 14:32 left.

But Tanisha Wright made back-to-back baskets to extend the Penn State lead to 55-48, and the Lady Mocs never got closer than five points.

Jess Strom had 11 points and eight assists for the Lady Lions.

Chattanooga led almost the entire first half, taking a 44-39 lead into the break after Katie Galloway hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Damita Bullock scored 17 of her 19 points in the first half, and Heather McDivitt had 14.