In an exhilarating first day of the NCAA Women's Tournament, several teams showcased their skills and battled it out on the court. Notable performances by freshman Essence Cody, Virginia Tech's Matilda Ekh, Baylor's Bella Fontleroy, Kansas State's Gabby Gregory, Middle Tennessee's Savannah Wheeler, LSU's Angel Reese, Texas' Shaylee Gonzales, Duke's Reigan Richardson, and South Carolina's Chloe Kitts were the highlights of the day. Let's dive into the action-packed games.

In a thrilling matchup between No. 8 seed Alabama and No. 9 seed Florida State, freshman Essence Cody powered her team to victory with an outstanding performance. Cody, standing at 6-foot-4, had season-best numbers with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Surpassing her average of eight points a game, she proved to be an unstoppable force inside the paint. Cody also showcased her defensive prowess with four blocked shots. Alabama sealed the 82-74 win by shooting 5 of 6 from the foul line in the final 44 seconds. Ta'Niya Latson led Florida State with 25 points and five assists, while Makayla Timpson contributed 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.

No. 13 seed Virginia Tech secured a dominant 92-49 victory over Marshall, with Matilda Ekh leading the charge. Ekh scored 21 points, connecting on 6 of 9 shots from the floor, including five 3-pointers. Her sharpshooting contributed to the Hokies' success and marked their 26th consecutive win at Cassell Coliseum, setting a school record. Abby Beeman scored 12 points for Marshall in their first loss after a 10-game winning streak.

The No. 5 seed Baylor also emerged victorious, defeating Vanderbilt 80-63 with a stellar performance by Bella Fontleroy. Fontleroy scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, highlighting her versatility on both ends of the court. She connected on six shots, including four 3-pointers, to guide Baylor to their seventh win in their past eight games. Iyana Moore led Vanderbilt with 15 points, but struggled with her shooting, making just 3 of 14 attempts.

In a clash between No. 11 seed Middle Tennessee and sixth-seeded Louisville, Middle Tennessee staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 71-69 victory. Despite facing an 18-point deficit in the second quarter, Middle Tennessee rallied behind an impressive performance from Savannah Wheeler, who scored 20 of her 22 points in the second half. Jalynn Gregory added 24 points for Middle Tennessee, while Olivia Cochran led Louisville with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Defending national champions, No. 3 seed LSU, faced a feisty No. 14 seed Rice team but managed to secure a 70-60 victory. Angel Reese led LSU with 10 points and an impressive 19 rebounds, while Aneesah Morrow, Flau'Jae Johnson, and Mikaylah Williams each contributed 14 points. However, LSU's high turnover count, a season-high 24, allowed Rice to stay competitive. Destiny Jackson scored 15 points, and Malia Fisher added 13 points and three steals for Rice.

Top-seeded Texas showcased their dominance with an 82-42 victory over No. 16 seed Drexel. Shaylee Gonzales stole the show with 21 points, converting 5 of 6 3-point attempts, while Taylor Jones added 18 points. Freshman Madison Booker made history with a Longhorn record of 14 assists in an NCAA Tournament game. Drexel struggled against Texas' formidable lineup, with only one starter over 6 feet tall.

Duke rallied in the second half to overcome Richmond, securing a 72-61 victory. Reigan Richardson led Duke with 25 points and seven rebounds, propelling them to victory after a nine-point halftime deficit. Ashlon Jackson added 14 points, while Grace Townsend led Richmond with 18 points.

Finally, No. 1 overall seed South Carolina confidently cruised past No. 16 seed Presbyterian with a dominant 91-39 victory. Chloe Kitts tied her career-high with 21 points, going a perfect 9-of-9 from the field. Despite missing starters Kamilla Cardoso and Bree Hall, South Carolina demonstrated their strength and moved closer to a perfect championship season.

With the first day of the NCAA Women's Tournament filled with impressive performances and intense matchups, fans can't wait to see what the remaining rounds have in store.