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Friday, Mar. 17 6:00pm ET
Murphy's season-high 26 points leads BC

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- It was a fast start that never stopped.

Boston College bolted to an 18-6 lead in the fist six minutes Friday night and never looked back as the No. 17 Eagles beat 13th-seeded Nebraska 93-76 in the first round of the women's NCAA Mideast Regional.

Alissa Murphy scored a season-high 26 points and Brianne Stepherson had 23 for the fifth-seeded Eagles, who also got 20 points from Becky Gottstein.

"We were attacking their defense the whole night," said Murphy, who hit three of the Eagles eight 3-pointers and added seven rebounds.

Stepherson had nine of the first 18, and said being able to knock her shot down from point guard is a key to freeing up the Eagles other scoring threats.

"I found if I was taking shots and making them then (defenders) would play me more honestly," she said. "That creates more opportunities for my teammates."

Boston College (26-8), in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season -- and the second time ever -- played like last year paid off. The Eagles reached the second round last season, losing 89-62 to powerhouse Tennessee.

"We have the experience ... and a whole lot more confidence," Murphy said.

The Eagles led 52-38 at halftime and pulled away after Nebraska (18-13) twice pulled within 10 early in the second half. Stepherson had seven straight in a span of 68 seconds, turning a 12-point lead into a runaway with 12 minutes left.

"I was a bit surprised with Boston College's start," Nebraska coach Paul Sanderford said. "Stepherson really hurt us with her dribble penetration. I knew she was good, but early on she basically controlled the basketball game."

Nicole Kubik paced Nebraska with 18 points and Brooke Schwartz had 16.

Kubik, who had four of Nebraska's 25 turnovers, said her team panicked when Boston College started the game pressing the ball and causing the miscues. Nebraska had five turnovers and only two shots after the first 3½ minutes.

Boston College forced 15 first-half turnovers and led 34-17 after 12½ minutes. The Eagles lead reached 19 twice, but Casey Leonhardt scored her first 10 points in the final 3:45 of the half as the Cornhuskers cut the deficit.

"We just couldn't get a defensive stop," Sanderford said of the first half. "We shot 55 percent in the first half and were down by 14. Then we made a run in the second half to get within 10, but we just couldn't get over the hump."

Kubik hit a 15-footer to pull the Cornhuskers to 57-47 with 15:28 left. Murphy hit a 3-pointer 16 seconds later and Nebraska didn't get within 10 again.