BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Tennessee's title defense ended sooner than expected, wrapping up the worst season ever for Pat Summitt's vaunted program.

Ball State stunned the two-time defending national champions, 71-55, in the opening round of the NCAA tournament last night, snapping one of the more remarkable streaks in college basketball history.

The fifth-seeded Lady Vols (22-11) had never lost on the opening weekend of the tourney, going 42-0 through the years.

"I thought we were tentative, maybe uptight," Summitt said. "But you have to give credit where credit is due and that's to the Ball State basketball team. They had a lot more toughness. They beat us to loose balls. They made shots."

Tennessee also became the first defending champ to lose in the first round of the women's tourney. Old Dominion won the title in 1985 and failed to make the tournament the following year.

The 12th-seeded Cardinals (26-8), who were making their NCAA debut, will play Iowa State in the second round tomorrow.

Porchia Green led Ball State with 23 points, Audrey McDonald added 18 and the Mid-American Conference champions dominated the second half to capture the biggest win in school history.

"I would be lying to you if I told you I thought it would be a 16-point victory," Ball State guard Kiley Jarrett said. "It hasn't hit me yet. It is just unbelievable."

Michigan St. 60, Middle Tennessee 59: Alysha Clark scored 34 points but none in the last 11-plus minutes and fouled out with 1 1/2 minutes left. That gave the Spartans (21-10) the boost they needed for a win over the Blue Raiders (28-6) in the NCAA tournament's first round at East Lansing, Mich.

Duke 83, Austin Peay 42: Fans of the school coach Joanne P. McCallie left behind didn't have much to jeer during the game, as Chante Black scored 14 points and the top-seeded Blue Devils (27-5) dominated in a win over the Lady Govs (17-16) in the first round at East Lansing, Mich.

Iowa St. 85, East Tennessee St. 53: Alison Lacey made six of Iowa State's record-tying 16 3-pointers and the Cyclones (25-8) routed the Buccaneers (20-11) in the opening round of NCAA tournament at Bowling Green, Ky.

TRENTON REGIONAL

Connecticut 104, Vermont 65: Tina Charles scored 32 points and Renee Montgomery added 19 — all in the first half — to help the top-seeded Huskies (34-0) rout the Catamounts (21-12) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament at Storrs, Conn.

Florida 70, Temple, 57: Sha Brooks scored 18 points and the Gators (24-7) beat the Owls (21-10) in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Storrs, Conn.

Minnesota 79, Notre Dame 71: The Gophers (20-11) started the game by making 11 of 13 shots and opened a 14-point first-half lead, then used timely 3-point shooting to hold off the Irish (22-9) in the first round of the NCAA tournament at South Bend, Ind.

Texas A&M 80, Evansville 45: The Aggies (26-7) forced a season-high 30 turnovers, leading to 43 points, and Danielle Gant scored 21 to help beat the Purple Aces (15-19) in the first round of the NCAA tournament at South Bend, Ind.

RALEIGH REGIONAL

Utah 60, Villanova 30: Kalee Whipple had 15 points and eight rebounds, all the while playing tough defense on Villanova star Laura Kurz, and the Utes (23-9) overwhelmed the poor-shooting Wildcats (19-14) in a first-round game of the Raleigh Regional at College Park, Md.

Maryland 82, Dartmouth 53: Kristi Toliver scored 23 points in the first half, and finished with 27 on 11-for-14 shooting, and the top-seeded Terrapins (29-4) extended their winning streak to 13 by beating the Big Green (18-11) at College Park, Md.

LSU 69, Wisconsin-Green Bay 59: Allison Hightower scored 26 points and the Tigers (19-10) advanced to the second round with a victory over the Phoenix (29-4) at Baton Rouge, La.

Louisville 62, Liberty 42: Angel McCoughtry and Candyce Bingham each scored 12 points in a short night's work, leading the Cardinals (30-4) over the Flames (24-9) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament at Baton Rouge, La.

South Dakota St. 90, TCU 55: The Jackrabbits (32-2) made a record-tying 16 3-point shots in their NCAA tournament debut and beat the Horned Frogs (20-11) at Lubbock, Texas.

Baylor 87, UTSA 82: Jessica Morrow and Melissa Jones each hit two free throws in the final 23 seconds of overtime and the Bears (28-5) beat the Roadrunners (24-9) at Lubbock, Texas, without coach Kim Mulkey, who was hospitalized earlier in the day after suffering a reaction to medication.

OKLAHOMA CITY REGIONAL

Oklahoma 76, Prairie View 47: Danielle Robinson scored 15 points, Ashley Paris added 14 and the top-seeded Sooners (29-4) overcame a sluggish start to beat the Lady Panthers (23-11) in the first round at Iowa City, Iowa. Courtney Paris had 11 points and 16 rebounds for Oklahoma.

Georgia Tech 76, Iowa 62: Jacqua Williams scored 23 points and 6-foot-5 freshman Sasha Goodlett came up big in her NCAA tournament debut with 16 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Yellow Jackets (22-9) over the Hawkeyes (21-11) at Iowa City, Iowa.