Women’s NCAA Tournament roundup

• The horn sounded and Miami coach Katie Meier turned to start jumping and hugging her staff as players and cheerleaders sprinted past for a meet-at-midcourt celebration. She soon made her way into the crowd to embrace players hollering with delight. Soon she emerged through the other side to trade hugs and high-fives with a front-row section of Hurricanes fans. An improbable and emotional ride to the program’s first Elite Eight appearance in the women’s NCAA Tournament was worth sharing with as many people as she could. “I can’t believe it,” Meier said afterward. “I’m not going to act cool. This is awesome.” Jasmyne Roberts scored a career-high 26points — including

a stick-back for the go-ahead, three-point play with 38.8 seconds left — to help Miami overcome blowing a 21-point lead and beat Villanova, 70-65, pulling the program to within a win of the Final Four.

• LaDazhia Williams was determined to extend her career.

Thanks to her best game of the season, her LSU teammates will get to keep playing, too. “I’m not ready to home,” she said. “We already know where we want to go.” Williams and the third-seeded Tigers reached the Elite Eight for the first time in 15years, holding off No. 2seed Utah, 66-63.

Williams had a season-high 24 points to boost LSU (31-2). Alexis Morris, another fifthyear transfer like Williams, had 15points. Her two foul shots with 10seconds left put LSU ahead for good, 64-63. She later made two more free throws.

“We’re just hungry right now,” Morris said. “I know we’re fueled up and we’re fired up. We’re one game away from going to the Final Four.” Angel Reese added 17points and 12rebounds for her 31st double double of the season. Coach Kim Mulkey’s Tigers can reach their first Final Four since 2008 on Sunday night when they face No. 9seed Miami to close the Greenville 2 Regional.

“I think we fought hard all four quarters,” Reese said. “We’ve been through so much from the beginning to the end, so I’m just super happy for this team.”

• Caitlin Clark scored 31points and dished out eight assists to lead Iowa past Colorado, 87-77.

• The Ole Miss-Louisville game was not completed in time for this edition.

STEPHEN BRASHEAR — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Colorado guard Frida Formann, right, and Iowa guard Kate Martin compete for a rebound March 24 in Seattle.