Eight teams found an opportunity and only four could seize the moment.

That's the way it was in NCAA Tournament sites across the country, including at the Bryce Jordan Center yesterday. For the first round of the "Big Dance," women's basketball teams from across the country, from California to St. John's, Missouri to Virginia Tech, fought for the right to play another day. It was a daunting task for the No. 15 seeds against big-named programs like Connecticut and Maryland. Coppin State and Sacred Heart had a moment to feel a part of the Big East or ACC.

But 40 minutes of basketball later, the dream had to end for half of the women present. Some would find their next dream on the ride home. For the other half, they have practice today. The next moment comes tomorrow.

No. 7 St. John's defeated No. 10 California, 78-68.

The Golden Bears were fed a large helping of junior guard Kia Wright and an extra helping of senior guard Greeba Barlow. Both eclipsed career highs in the game, with 26 and 21 points respectively. Barlow, who was 2-of-3 from downtown, exuberantly echoed the sentiment of her Red Storm teammates after the game.

"We're at a dance, and we want to keep dancing, we want to keep dancin', we want to keep dancin,' " she said.

The upset special was not to be for Cal, as St. John's slowly pulled away from the Bears in the second half. Cal could only muster a 29.6 shooting percentage in the first half, boosted by freshman point guard Alexis Lawson-Gray's final second three-pointer to end the half.

Coincidentally, any team that hit a last-second shot from behind the arc to end a half lost the game.

No. 2 Maryland defeated No. 15 Sacred Heart, 95-54.

Fans representing the Pioneers found something to cheer about as junior guard Amanda Pape sank a running trey before the alarm sounded at the end of the first half, cutting the halftime deficit to 14 points.

On this day, that wasn't indicative of a momentum shifter. Not with Maryland's size in the paint, which equated to a 57-to-26 pounding on the boards.

Sacred Heart coach Ed Swanson knew there was trouble when he scouted this team before the game.

"Every time I looked at their stats, I got sick to my stomach," Swanson said. "I thought we did a good job on their first-shot percentage, but it was their second and third shot that was the difference."

Five players scored in double digits for the Terrapins, as sophomore forward Jade Perry led with 20 points and 10 rebounds. According to Perry, the battle on the glass tested the will of Sacred Heart.

"We had more heart then they did with the rebounding," she said.

No. 7 Virginia Tech defeated No. 10 Missouri, 82-51.

Each school's band rivaled the actual number of fans in attendance for the Hokies and Tigers. Likewise the arena had a feeling of emptiness associated with the lack of a competitive basketball game after halftime when the score was 32-25 Virginia Tech.

Missouri's senior guard LaToya Bond, an All-Big 12 Team member, failed to fill the bucket enough, as her 13 points were the only double digit mark on the Tiger's roster.

Though the score never reached the level of ridiculous of the Maryland vs. Sacred Heart affair, Hokie senior guard Dawn Chriss lulled the Missouri faithful to sleep with an easy 21 points.

"If we didn't get a layup, there was a pass outside," Chriss said. "We are just a really balanced team."

Virginia Tech senior point guard Carrie Mason, from Seneca, Pa., pleased her fan base with 10 points, and received a standing ovation as she exited the game.

They will now have the dubious honor of seeing the Hokies play Connecticut in the second round tomorrow.

No. 2 Connecticut defeated No. 15 Coppin State, 77-54.

The few fans that chose to stick around saw the Lady Eagles hold a 25-23 lead over the Huskies, much of that because of 3-of-3 three-point shooting by junior guard Rashida Suber, with tape all around her right hand.

With 4:10 remaining in the first half, Coppin State's squad was looking like contenders ready to knock out the giant.

Then Connecticut senior forward Barbara Turner directed her team to a 36-27 lead at halftime after scoring 15 of her total 23 points. Eventually Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma's entire squad started to take control, as sophomore guard Mel Thomas hit a trey start putting the game away, 47-34. The Huskies wrapped up the night outscoring Coppin State - in the second half, 41-27.