By DOUG FEINBERG

updated 1:29 a.m. ET March 21, 2010

So much for upsets.

For only the third time since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1994, the top seeds went unbeaten on the opening day of the NCAA women’s tournament. In 1997 and 2003 the top teams were undefeated on the first day. In both instances there were two upsets the next day.

It took 18-point second-half rallies by No. 3 Oklahoma State and eighth-seeded Dayton to keep the better seeds unblemished. The huge comeback by the Cowgirls against Chattanooga was the largest halftime rally in the NCAA tournament since 1999, according to STATS.

The Flyers trailed TCU by 18 points in the second half before Brittany Wilson scored just before the buzzer to secure a one-point victory. That was the only game decided by three points or less — nine were double-digit victories.

President Barack Obama picked the better seeds in most of his bracket and went 15-1 on the opening day. His lone blemish was going with 10th-seeded North Carolina, which lost to No. 7 Gonzaga 82-76.

In comparison, the men’s NCAA tournament had seven lower-seeded teams win on the opening day.

“That just shows the wisdom of the (selection) committee. It’s a reflection of the job they do,” said Georgia coach Andy Landers, whose team beat No. 12 Tulane 64-59. “It’s unusual even when they get it all right that all the higher seeds win. You expect some upsets. There will be some upsets I think somewhere along the way.”

Don’t look for the underdogs to get off to a quick start Sunday, when No. 1 Connecticut puts its 72-game winning streak on the line against Southern in one of the early games.

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Mark J. Terrill / AP

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