Ashley Walker scored 13 points to lead three teammates in double figures as the Fresno State Bulldogs routed Hawai'i, 78-50, last night in the Rainbow Wahine's Western Athletic Conference opener at Fresno, Calif.

Haley Munro and Taja Edwards added 12 points each, and Brittany Jones contributed 11 for the defending WAC champion Bulldogs, who improved to 11-4 overall and 2-0 in conference.

Fresno State led 40-22 at intermission and was never threatened in the second half.

Megan Tinnin had 10 points to lead the Rainbow Wahine (3-11), who committed 25 turnovers and went to the free-throw line just three times, making one.

Fresno State had 18 steals with Walker, Edwards and Bailey Amundsen getting three each.

NO. 2 NORTH CAROLINA 83, CLEMSON 74

Rashanda McCants scored 17 points and the visiting Tar Heels (15-0, 1-0 ACC) blew a 12-point lead, but took the lead for good, 66-65 on Heather Clayton's layup with 4:36 left to beat the Lady Tigers (10-5, 1-1).

"They've been through this before. They know how to" come back, coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "But we shouldn't have been in the position in the first place."

NO. 7 TENNESSEE 69, KENTUCKY 64

Shekinna Stricklen scored 18 points and Glory Johnson made a layup to break a 57-all tie with 2:47 left and the host Lady Vols (12-2, 1-0 SEC) never trailed in beating the Wildcats (10-6, 0-1) for coach Pat Summitt's 995 career victory.

NO. 9 AUBURN 80, SOUTH CAROLINA 76

DeWanna Bonner scored 29 points and Whitney Boddie added 21 to lead the visiting Tigers (16-0) over the Gamecocks (8-6) in the SEC opener for both.

NO. 11 STANFORD 112, WASHINGTON 35

Jayne Appel had 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots, and the host Cardinal (12-3, 3-0 Pac-10) hit 14 treys in rolling to the largest margin of victory in school history with a rout of the Huskies (5-7, 1-1).

NO. 13 CALIFORNIA 68, WASHINGTON STATE 45

Ashley Walker had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the host Bears (12-2, 3-0 Pac-10) never trailed in beating the Cougars (7-6, 0-2) for the eighth straight time.

NO. 14 MARYLAND 92, WAKE FOREST 65

Kristi Toliver scored 22 points and the host Terrapins (13-2) bolted to a 20-0 lead in cruising past the Demon Deacons (12-2) in the ACC opener for both.

NO. 16 OHIO STATE 55, WISCONSIN 42

Jantel Lavender had 16 points and 15 rebounds to help the visiting Buckeyes (13-2, 4-0 Big Ten) beat the Badgers (12-4, 2-3) and move into first place in the conference.

NO. 18 FLORIDA 80, MISSISSIPPI STATE 66

Sha Brooks poured in 31 points as the host Gators (15-1) beat the Lady Bulldogs (12-3) for their 15th straight victory in the SEC opener for both.

NO. 24 VANDERBILT 85, ALABAMA 76

Jennifer Risper scored 17 points to lead four teammates in double figures as the visiting Commodores (12-4) beat the Crimson Tide (12-4) in the SEC opener for both.

NO. 16 XAVIER 70, SAINT LOUIS 44

Derrick Brown scored 20 points and C.J. Anderson added 13 as the host Musketeers (12-2) routed the Billikens (9-6) in the Atlantic 10 opener for both.

NO. 20 ARIZONA STATE 69, OREGON STATE 38

James Harden scored 22 points, and the host Sun Devils (13-2, 2-1) routed the Beavers (6-7, 1-2), whose 38 points are the fewest Arizona allowed against a Pac-10 opponent in 31 years as a conference member.

NO. 21 BUTLER 64, WRIGHT STATE 48

Matt Howard scored 14 points and Gordon Hayward had 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the host Bulldogs (13-1, 4-0 Horizon League) over the Raiders (8-8, 2-3).

NO. 22 MINNESOTA 52, IOWA 49

Lawrence Westbrook and Travis Busch each scored 10 points and the visiting Golden Gophers (14-1, 2-1 Big Ten) rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat the host Hawkeyes (11-5, 1-2).