The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Women’s NCAA Tournament roundup
GREENVILLE 1 REGION
• This wasn’t the NCAA Tournament debut South Carolina coach Dawn Staley hoped to see from her top-seeded Gamecocks. The final scored showed a 72-40 blowout over No. 16 seed Norfolk State (26-7). Staley saw poor shooting early and a disjointed attack that could cost her team down the road.
“If it wasn’t for the way we play defense, (Norfolk State) would’ve probably given us a lot of trouble given how we shot the ball,” Staley said.
• Brinae Alexander scored over 1,100points in her career before finally having an opportunity to play in an NCAA Tournament. She made up for lost time. Alexander scored a game-high 18 points, and second-seeded Maryland rolled to a 93-61 victory over 15th-seeded Holy Cross.
“I was really excited to especially be able to play home and have that home-court advantage,” Alexander said.
• Forward Maddy Westbeld scored 20points and led No. 3 seed Notre Dame to an 82-56 win over No. 14seed Southern Utah. “I’m just ecstatic about this win,” Coach Niele Ivey said. “It was such a dominant performance.”
• When Shaina Pellington left the game with four fouls early in the third quarter, Arizona didn’t miss a beat. In fact, freshman Kailyn Gilbert helped the Wildcats pull away.
Cate Reese scored 25points and Esmery Martinez had a doubledouble against her former team, leading seventh-seeded Arizona to a 75-62victory over 10th-seeded West Virginia. The Wildcats went on a 16-3run in the second half with Pellington on the bench.
• Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored 22points and Elena Tsineke’s jumper with 31.2 seconds left in overtime put South Florida ahead for good in a 67-65victory over No. 9seed Marquette.
The Golden Eagles (22-11) had a final look to win, but Mackenzie Hare’s 3-pointer went inside the rim and rolled out with a second to play.
“What a way to start the NCAA Tournament,” South Florida coach Jose Fernandez said. The Bulls (27-6), who didn’t lead for the game’s first 38minutes, rallied several times including from 47-36down in regulation to tie their mark for wins in a season.
Breaking the record this year won’t be so easy as South Florida is likely to face the
No. 1overall seed and defending champion South Carolina, undefeated on the year and a
South Florida guard Carla Brito (55), Elena Tsineke (5), Sammie Puisis (3) and Aerial Wilson (22) react after a missed shot by Marquette at the end of overtime in a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament on March 17 in Columbia, S.C. South Florida won, 67-65.
huge favorite to advance over No. 16seed Norfolk State in the Columbia pod’s late game. “We have one day to prepare for them, they have one day to prepare for us,” Fernandez said. “So we’ll see.”
The Bulls appeared to have the game won at the end of the fourth quarter, ahead 59-55after Tsineke’s 3-pointer with 31.7 to play. But Hare’s two foul shots after a South Florida turnover tied things and forced the extra session.
The lead changed hands six times in overtime, the last on Tsineke’s basket.
• Jerkaila Jordan scored 20 and led No. 11seed Mississippi State to an 81-66win against No. 6Creighton. Jessika Carter, the 6-5Bulldog center, took advantage of the Bluejays’ undersized front court, with 14 points and 10rebounds. Anastasia Hayes chipped in 12points and seven assists. Ahlana Smith and Asianae Johnson each added 10 points.
GREENVILLE 2 REGION
• Emily Kiser leads Michigan, by far, in the basketball equivalent of football helmet stickers for the number of winning plays she’s made this season — from diving for loose balls to taking charges.
There are more than 40stickers in her locker now, according to Coach Kim Barnes Arico — more than double the number of any teammate. And there will be more to come before the women’s NCAA Tournament is over. Kiser had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Maddie Nolan added 18points, and sixth-seeded Michigan beat 11th-seeded UNLV, 71-59, snapping the Rebels’ 22-game winning streak. “Our team had a little bit of a chip on their shoulder,” said Barnes Arico, whose team had entered the tournament having lost three of four. “We lost a couple games down the stretch but we weren’t completely healthy. “With everyone back, I think our players really have that confidence,” added Barnes Arico, whose team made the Elite Eight last season. “They also have that experience.”
Leigha Brown scored 17 points for the Wolverines (23-9).
• Angel Reese had 34 points and 15rebounds — her 29th double-double this season — and third seeded LSU defeated No. 14 seed Hawaii, 73-50. Flau’Jae Johnson scored 10 for LSU (29-2), which raced to a doubledigit lead in the first quarter and maintained a comfortable lead most of the way.
• Alissa Pili had a monster game was 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Jenna Johnson contributed 20 as Utah routed Gardner-Webb, 103-77.
• The Princeton-NC State game was not completed in time for this edition.
SEATTLE 3 REGION
• Georgia Amoore scored 22 points, Elizabeth Kitley added 12, and top-seeded Virginia Tech rolled to a 58-33victory over No. 16seed Chattanooga. Kitley added 14rebounds while Amoore hit five 3-pointers for the Hokies (28-4), who won their 12th consecutive game.
• The USC-South Dakota State game was not completed in time for this edition.
SEATTLE 4 REGION
• Caitlin Clark had 26points and 12assists and Monika Czinano added 22points as Iowa defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 95-43. Hannah Stuelke added 13points for the Hawkeyes, the second seed in Seattle Regional
4.
• Georgia coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said her first season as the Bulldogs’ head coach was an internal battle to find “stars.” “The star,” she said, “was our defense.”
The Lady Bulldogs’ zone stifled Florida State in a 66-54 win. Diamond Battles scored 21 points and Audrey Warren added 11points for the 10th-seeded Lady Bulldogs (22-11).
• Haley Jones scored 17points for a top-seeded Stanford team missing star Cameron Brink because of a stomach bug, and the Cardinal advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament by beating 16th-seeded Sacred Heart, 92-49.
Stanford, earning a No. 1seed for a third straight year, notched the program’s 100th NCAA Tournament victory — third most all-time behind Tennessee and UConn. The Cardinal (29-5) have reached the Sweet 16in 14 consecutive tournaments.
• The Ole Miss-Gonzaga game was not completed in time for this edition.