RUSTON - Four Louisiana Tech players scored in double figures but sophomore guard Erica Smith was a one man show Sunday night in the Lady Techsters 94-60 win over Pepperdine in the 2003 NCAA Women's Basketball first round action.

Smith hit 9 of 16 field goals, including a career-high four three-pointers, and 7 of 8 free throws to score a career-high 28 points as Tech (30-2) advanced to Tuesday night's second round game against Ohio State, a 66-44 winner of Weber State.

The Palestine-Wheatley High School product scored 20 of her game-high 28 points in the first half to lead the Lady Techsters to a 56-25 halftime advantage.

"At this time of year, it is all about establishing yourself," said Tech head coach Kurt Budke, who saw his team improve to 30-2 on the year. "We told our players they have to at least (score) what they have been averaging all year and then hope somebody goes off. Well, Erica Smith went off tonight."

With Tech leading 19-15 at the 10:30 mark of the first half, Smith started her barrage, scoring nine points in a 13-1 Tech run as the Lady Techsters held a 32-16 lead with 7:04 remaining. Smith's outburst ignited her teammates who joined in the scoring fest as Tech took the commanding 31-point halftime lead into the locker room.

"I came out focused," Smith said. "I had been practicing hard all week and tried to stay focused. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the NCAAs and last year I got a little taste of that."

The second half proved to be more of the same as Pepperdine got no closer than 29 points while Tech pushed it out to as many as 42 points. Smith broke her career high

"(Erica Smith) took us out of our game plan, and she took us out of our game plan early with two quick three-pointers," said Pepperdine head coach Mark Trakh. "She did a really good job. That's a pretty good game."

Smith and junior guard Amber Obaze both hit a pair of three-pointers in the first 10 minutes of the game when Pepperdine's defense was focused on double teaming the Tech post players.

"The game plan was to double down on Frierson and Ford, and I thought we did a pretty good job on Ford," Trakh said. "But their perimeter kids played very well, and Smith and Obaze played very, very well. That kind of destroyed any game plan we had."

Trina Frierson added 21 points and eight rebounds, while Amber Obaze scored 14 points and Cheryl Ford chipped in with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Tamara McDonald led the Waves with 16 points and eight rebounds, although the West Coast Conference Player of the Year hit only 5 of 17 field goals and recorded six turnovers.

As a team, Pepperdine hit only 26.8 percent (19-71) of its field goals while turning the basketball over 20 times.

Tech improves to 35-0 all-time in NCAA Tournament games in Ruston, including a 32-0 mark at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Tuesday's second round game between Louisiana Tech and Ohio State will tip off at 8:23 p.m.