Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
McDonald, Arizona reach new heights
Storm of 3-pointers throttle Texas A&M in regional semifinal
SAN ANTONIO — Aari McDonald scored 31 points to lead third-seeded Arizona to a 74-59 win over second-seeded Texas A&M on Saturday in the Mercado Region and send the Wildcats to a regional final for the first time.
The Wildcats (19-5) had made only one previous trip the regional semifinals, when coach Adia Barnes was a player in 1998. This time they rode their Pac-12 player of the year and 13 3-pointers to the school’s biggest victory yet. McDonald was 6-for-12 on 3-pointers.
She excelled on both ends of the court. The Pac-12’s defensive player of the year shut down Aggies guard Jordan Nixon, whose late-game heroics had pulled Texas A&M (25-3) through the first two rounds. Nixon had three points after scoring 35 in the second round.
The Aggies were 2-for-8 on 3-pointers and committed 19 turnovers
that led to 28 Arizona points. ■ Indiana 73, North Carolina
State 70: Ali Patberg scored 17 points for the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (21-5), who advanced to a regional final for the first time.
Jada Boyd scored 18 points and Raina Perez 17 for the top-seeded
Wolfpack (22-3), who trailed 70-60 with 2:51 left before going on an 8-0 run. N.C. State had a chance to tie it, but star center Elissa Cunane missed a contested layup with 30 seconds left.
Indiana trailed 33-28 late in the first half before scoring the second quarter’s final six points. It carried the momentum into the third, opening a 45-35 lead. The Hoosiers hit seven of their first eight shots in the period.
RIVER WALK REGIONAL
■ Baylor 78, Michigan 75, OT:
NaLyssa Smith scored 24 points on 11-for-11 shooting for the second-seeded Lady Bears (28-2), who didn’t trail in regulation in their 20th straight win.
Leigha Brown scored 23 points for the sixth-seeded Wolverines (16-6), who forged a 63-63 tie when Naz Hilmon converted on a lob pass with 15 seconds left in regulation. There were six ties and lead changes in the extra period.
Moon Ursin scored 20 points and Dijonai Carrington 19 — including six in overtime — for Baylor.
■ Connecticut 92, Iowa 72:
Christyn Williams scored 27 points for the top-seeded Huskies (27-1), who welcomed back Geno Auriemma after the coach had missed the two opening rounds while recovering from COVID-19.
Caitlyn Clark, the nation’s top scorer, had 21 points on 7-for21 shooting for the fifth-seeded Hawkeyes (20-10). The freshman had averaged 27 points per game. UConn freshman All-American Paige Bueckers had 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.