Women’s March Madness roundup: Baylor rally past Nebraska on chalky day one

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Taliah Scott scored 15 points and Baylor rallied from a nine-point shortage successful nan 4th quarter, making 11 of 14 free throws down nan stretch, to hit Nebraska 67-62 connected Friday successful nan first information of nan NCAA Tournament.

After starring 19-11 aft nan first quarter, nan sixth-seeded Bears (25-8) went acold and were down 50-41 pinch 9:33 to play successful their March Madness opener. Baylor past turned up nan full-court property and forced six turnovers by Nebraska successful nan last quarter.

The turning constituent came connected a jump shot pinch nan crippled tied astatine 53 pinch 3:48 to play. Baylor coach Nicki Collen appealed for officials to reappraisal nan play for a flagrant foul connected Nebraska inferior guardant Jessica Petrie.

Baylor won nan appeal, and Scott made 2 free throws to springiness Baylor nan lead for good. Petrie, who had 10 points for nan Cornhuskers, fouled retired connected nan adjacent play.

Darianna Littlepage-Buggs scored 13 points. Jana Van Gytenbeek added 12, including 2 captious 3-pointers successful nan 2nd half.

No 2 LSU 116, No 15 Jacksonville 58

Flau’jae Johnson scored 20 points, Mikaylah Williams had 18 points and 10 assists, and LSU easy surpassed it’s nation-leading scoring mean pinch a triumph complete Jacksonville.

LSU (28-5), entered nan crippled averaging 94.5 points per game, scored 100 aliases much for nan 15th clip this season.

The Tigers besides had a season-high 18 steals and vanished pinch a 38-13 advantage successful points disconnected of turnovers.

Jada Richard scored 17 points and 4 steals, and ZaKiyah Johnson added 16 points for nan Tigers, who had 7 players people astatine slightest 10 points. MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 13 points.

Carmaya Bowman scored 14 points and Tatum Brown scored 10 for Jacksonville (24-9), nan Atlantic Sun Conference tourney champions, who were making conscionable their 2nd NCAA Tournament appearance.

No 3 Duke 81, No 14 College of Charleston 64

Toby Fournier scored 24 points connected 11-of-18 shooting and Duke maintained its momentum by opening nan first information of March Madness pinch a triumph complete nan College of Charleston.

Jordan Wood had 17 points connected 5-of-5 shooting from three-point scope and Delaney Thomas had 19 points and 9 rebounds for nan third-seeded Blue Devils (25-8), who are hosting nan first and 2nd rounds of nan women’s NCAA Tournament for nan 2nd consecutive twelvemonth astatine Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Since a 3-6 start, Duke is connected a 22-2 tally that includes their 2nd ACC Tournament title successful a row.

But coach Kara Lawson still was frustrated, becoming animated pinch her players during a four-quarter timeout contempt a comfortable margin. She noted that 20 Duke turnovers led to 22 points by Charleston, which besides scored 12 second-chance points and made 22 free throws.

“Those are areas that we request those numbers to travel down,” Lawson said. “I aftermath up intense. I’m ever astatine nan adjacent level. There’s an urgency astir me. It’s March. You want to win. You want to play well. No matter what nan people is, there’s a modular by which we play. If we don’t play that, past it’s my occupation to get them to that level.”

Fournier, a 6ft 2in sophomore guardant who was a third-team All America selection, was a unit wrong connected discourtesy and defense. During 1 second-quarter sequence, she sandwiched a nifty reverse lay-in and fast-break layup astir a artifact of Tyja Beans.

No 4 Minnesota 75, No 13 Green Bay 58

Minnesota survived a home-court scare by Green Bay, getting 21 points from Amaya Battle and utilizing a 30-point 4th fourth for a victory.

Sophie Hart had 19 points and Mara Braun saved her champion for nan sizzling 4th fourth to decorativeness pinch 16 points arsenic nan No 4 seed Gophers (23-8) celebrated their first tourney quality since 2018 pinch a memorable comeback.

Minnesota, which trailed 43-34 midway done nan 3rd quarter, will enactment location to look No 5 seed Mississippi successful a 2nd information crippled connected Sunday.

Maddy Skorupski scored 19 points for nan Phoenix (25-9), who simply ran retired of steam against nan relentless Gophers defense down nan stretch.

Denae Fritz of nan Texas Tech Red Raiders dribbles past Kelsey Jones of nan Villanova Wildcats during Friday’s game.
Denae Fritz of nan Texas Tech Red Raiders dribbles past Kelsey Jones of nan Villanova Wildcats during Friday’s game. Photograph: Ella Hall/NCAA Photos/Getty Images

No 5 Mississippi 81, No 12 Gonzaga 66

Latasha Lattimore led a balanced discourtesy pinch 15 points arsenic Mississippi overpowered Gonzaga.

Cotie McMahon scored 13 points and Sira Thienou had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks for Mississippi, who will look nan victor of nan matchup betwixt Minnesota and Green Bay connected Sunday.

Denim DeShields added 11 points and 4 assists for nan No 5-seed Rebels (24-11), who were classed 19th successful nan astir caller AP canvass and are playing successful their 5th consecutive NCAA Tournament.

Allie Turner led Gonzaga, champions of nan West Coast Conference Tournament, pinch 27 points. Jaiden Haile had 11 points and 8 rebounds and Lauren Whittaker added 8 points and 13 rebounds.

After falling down by arsenic overmuch arsenic 13 successful nan first quarter, No 12-seed Gonzaga (24-10) sewage a three-point play by Haile and a driving layup by Turner to trim nan shortage to 25-19 midway done nan second.

But Ole Miss responded pinch a 14-4 tally that started pinch consecutive second-chance buckets by Lattimore successful nan debased post. McMahon capped nan tally pinch a three-pointer to nonstop nan Rebels into nan locker room starring 39-23.

No 7 Texas Tech 57, No 10 Villanova 52

Bailey Maupin scored 7 of her 17 points successful nan last 3 minutes, and Texas Tech held connected to conclusion Villanova.

Denae Fritz scored 13 points for Texas Tech (26-7), which went 7 of 15 from three-point range, outshot Villanova, 44% (18 of 41) to 37% (20 of 54) and made 14 of 15 foul shots.

Fritz and Maupin some deed three-pointers successful nan last 4:22 to thief Tech transportation a 53-47 lead into nan last 2 minutes.

Kelsey Joens scored 14 points and Brynn McCurry had 13 points and 9 rebounds for Villanova.

No 4 North Carolina 82, No 13 Western Illinois 51

Nyla Harris scored 17 points, Lanie Grant had 15 and North Carolina rolled past cold-shooting Western Illinois.

Nyla Brooks added 14 points and Indya Nivar had 11 arsenic nan Tar Heels, hosting games connected nan opening play for nan 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, won a first-round crippled for nan 5th consecutive season.

Fourth-seeded North Carolina (27-7) will meet fifth-seeded Maryland, a 99-67 victor complete Murray State successful nan site’s first game, connected Sunday successful nan 2nd round.

Mia Nicastro scored 21 points for No 13 seed Western Illinois (26-6), which changeable 30.4% from nan field. The Leathernecks were 2 for 15 connected three-pointers. Nicastro changeable 6 for 15 from nan level and 9 for 10 connected free throws, coming up conscionable short of her 24.2 points per crippled scoring average.

No 5 Maryland 99, No 12 Murray State 67

Redshirt freshman Kyndal Walker scored a career-high 20 points and she had plentifulness of thief from Maryland teammates arsenic nan Terrapins defeated Murray State successful nan first information of nan NCAA Tournament.

Mir McLean scored 19 points and Addi Mack added 18 points, while Yarden Garzon had 12 points and Saylor Poffenbarger added 10 points for fifth-seeded Maryland, which hammered nan Racers connected nan boards.

The Terrapins (24-8), who matched their highest constituent full successful a regularisation crippled this play pinch nan assistance of 50% shooting from nan field, will meet nan North Carolina-Western Illinois victor successful Sunday’s 2nd round.

Halli Poock poured successful 27 points and Haven Ford and Keslyn Secrist each scored 17 points for No 12 seed Murray State (31-4), who vanished pinch a school-record triumph full moreover though its 15-game winning streak ended.

Maryland’s 24 violative rebounds were much than Murray State’s wide rebounding full successful what vanished arsenic a 51-21 spread connected nan boards.

ZaKiyah Johnson of nan LSU Tigers controls nan shot against nan Jacksonville during Friday’s game.
ZaKiyah Johnson of nan LSU Tigers controls nan shot against nan Jacksonville during Friday’s game. Photograph: Ella Hall/NCAA Photos/Getty Images

No 1 Texas 87, No 16 Missouri State 45

Jordan Lee scored 19 points and Texas opened nan women’s NCAA Tournament pinch a romp complete Missouri State, building a 32-point lead by halftime arsenic nan Longhorns started what they dream will beryllium a return travel to nan Final Four.

All-American Madison Booker had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Texas (32-3) against nan overmatched No 16-seed Lady Bears. The Longhorns beforehand to Sunday’s second-round crippled against No 8-seed Oregon, who hit No 9 Virginia Tech 70-60 earlier Friday.

The Longhorns overwhelmed Missouri State early pinch their size and velocity astatine some ends of nan court. Kyla Oldacre, astatine 6ft 6in, scored 15 points was an immovable unit nether nan basket. The quickness of Texas guards Lee, Rori Harmon and Bryanna Preston created unfastened lanes to nan handbasket aliases unopen them down connected defense.

Texas led 19-4 aft nan first 4th and 44-12 by halftime. Missouri State, which won nan Conference USA Tournament, made conscionable 4 baskets successful nan first half.

No 2 Michigan 83, No 15 Holy Cross 48

Mila Holloway and Syla Swords each had 7 points successful a ascendant opening 4th and mixed to people 33 points, starring Michigan to a triumph complete Holy Cross.

Holloway vanished pinch 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, Swords scored 13 and Olivia Olson had 12 points and 8 rebounds for nan Wolverines (26-6).

Michigan will beryllium backmost connected its location tribunal against N.C. State aliases Tennessee connected Sunday pinch a chance to beforehand to nan Sweet 16 for nan 3rd clip successful schoolhouse history.

The Crusaders (23-10) earned a bid for nan 3rd clip successful 4 years and entered March Madness pinch a nine-game winning streak and exited pinch conscionable their 2nd nonaccomplishment successful 2 months.

Kaitlyn Flanagan scored 11 points arsenic nan only double-digit scorer for Holy Cross.

Kaemyn Bekemeier scored 14 points to lead Missouri State (23-13).

No 7 NC State 76, No 10 Tennessee 61

Zamareya Jones scored 15 of her career-high 30 points successful nan first half to thief build a double-digit lead and North Carolina State went connected to hit Tennessee.

The Wolfpack (21-10) will play second-seeded Michigan (26-6) connected nan Wolverines’ location tribunal successful nan 2nd information Sunday. They mightiness beryllium without All-ACC defender Zoe Brooks, who injured his correct limb successful nan 4th and didn’t return.

The Lady Vols (16-14) person dropped 8 consecutive games for nan first clip successful nan NCAA women’s hoops era that dates to nan 1981-82 season, and they matched nan 2015-16 team’s schoolhouse grounds for losses.

No 8 Oregon 70, No 9 Virginia Tech 60

Katie Fiso scored 22 points and Oregon utilized a ascendant 3rd 4th to propulsion distant from Virginia Tech for a triumph to unfastened nan women’s NCAA Tournament.

Ehis Etute added 11 points and 11 rebounds for nan No 8-seed Ducks (23-12) who took power of nan crippled pinch an 18-0 tally successful nan 3rd and beforehand to nan 2nd information of nan tourney for nan 2nd consecutive season. They earned a matchup pinch No 1 Texas.

Mia Jacobs added 13 points for Oregon, Carys Baker scored 21 to lead nan No 9-seed Hokies (23-10), who changeable nether 30% complete nan first 3 quarters.

Fiso and Oregon started nan crippled by making 9 of their first 11 shots and led 22-11 by nan extremity of nan first quarter. The Hokies went much than six minutes without a section goal, and starring scorer Carleigh Wenzel went to nan chair pinch 2 early fouls.

Wenzel stayed retired nan full 2nd quarter, but Virginia Tech rallied to wrong 32-29 earlier Oregon closed nan half pinch a three-pointer by Jacobs.

Etute scored 7 points successful nan Ducks’ large tally successful nan 3rd and Fiso deed a step-back three-pointer erstwhile she was near astatine nan apical of nan arc. Oregon stretched nan lead arsenic precocious arsenic 22 successful nan quarter.

TCU defender Olivia Miles drives to nan handbasket during Friday’s triumph complete UC San Diego.
TCU defender Olivia Miles drives to nan handbasket during Friday’s triumph complete UC San Diego. Photograph: Trevor Fleeman/NCAA Photos/Getty Images

No 3 TCU 86, No 14 UC San Diego 40

Olivia Miles had her 12th profession triple-double pinch 12 points and profession highs of 16 rebounds and 14 assists arsenic TCU hit UC San Diego successful a first-round NCAA Tournament game, giving nan Horned Frogs their 43rd consecutive triumph astatine home.

Miles has nan assists connected nan first 4 baskets for nan Frogs arsenic they went up to stay, going up 11-2 successful nan first 2:02 of nan game. They scored nan last 19 points of nan crippled to make nan last people nan largest margin.

“You saw wrong nan first 4 minutes of nan crippled nan pep, nan popular she played with. I mean she was successful onslaught mode,” TCU coach Mark Campbell said. “When Olivia’s for illustration that, our squad feeds disconnected it and we’re astatine a full different level.”

Taylor Bigby added a career-high 27 points connected 8-of-10 shooting pinch 7 three-pointers for TCU (30-5), which besides sewage double-doubles from Clara Silva (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Marta Suarez (11 points, 10 rebounds).

Miles became only nan 3rd subordinate pinch aggregate triple-doubles successful women’s NCAA Tournament games, pinch her different coming while astatine Notre Dame successful 2022. She came retired of nan crippled correct aft her three-pointer pinch 4:50 near for a 74-40 lead. Her 14 assists group TCU’s single-game record, matching her champion group astatine Notre Dame.

No 4 Oklahoma 89, No 13 Idaho 59

Raegan Beers had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Oklahoma overwhelmed Idaho.

Beers, a elder center, besides had 4 assists and 4 blocks. Sahara Williams had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Aaliyah Chavez scored 15 points and Payton Verhulst added 14 for nan Sooners (25-7), who stopped Idaho’s triumph streak astatine 18 games. The Vandals hadn’t mislaid since 10 January.

Oklahoma will play No 5 seed Michigan State successful nan 2nd information connected Sunday. The Spartans outlasted No 12 Colorado State 65-62 successful nan early crippled connected Friday.

Kyra Gardner scored 19 points and Hope Hassmann added 12 for Idaho (29-6).

No 5 Michigan State 65, No 12 Colorado State 62

Grace VanSlooten and Kennedy Blair each scored 18 points, and Michigan State rallied successful nan 2nd half to hit Colorado State.

VanSlooten added 10 rebounds for Michigan State (23-8), nan 5th seed successful nan Sacramento Region. The Spartans will play No 4 seed Oklahoma.

Brooke Carlson had 26 points, six rebounds and 3 assists for No 12 seed Colorado State (27-8), which played without starring scorer Lexus Bargesser. She suffered a non-contact wounded during nan Rams’ Mountain West Conference Tournament title run.

No 6 Washington 72, No 11 South Dakota State 54

Avery Howell had 30 points and 9 rebounds to lead Washington to its first women’s NCAA Tournament triumph since 2017, beating South Dakota State.

South Dakota State jumped retired to a 13-3 lead successful nan first 5 minutes, but nan crippled was tied astatine 15 erstwhile Howell made a 3-pointer pinch 50 seconds near successful nan first quarter. Howell made different 3 only 55 seconds into nan 2nd 4th to break that necktie and put Washington (22-10) up to stay.

Howell, nan transportation from Southern Cal who arsenic a freshman past play was portion of nan Trojans’ tally to nan Elite Eight, vanished pinch 7 3s.

“That allowed maine to person immoderate acquisition and conscionable consciousness really comfortable successful these type of high-pressure situations,” Howell said, referring to her erstwhile NCAA tourney. “That conscionable allows maine to hopefully beryllium a calming beingness connected nan tribunal and conscionable beryllium location for my teammates and for my coaches successful immoderate measurement that I can.”

Brooklyn Meyer had 29 points and 7 rebounds for South Dakota State (27-7), which had its 10-game winning streak snapped. Emilee Fox had 14 points.

Brynn McGaughy added 14 points successful 18 minutes for nan sixth-seeded Huskies, whose past NCAA tourney triumph came connected their measurement to nan Sweet 16 9 years ago. They mislaid a First Four crippled to Columbia past play successful what had been their only different quality since then.

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Source theguardian.com
theguardian.com