Difference in testing has Stanford coach, others upset
SAN ANTONIO >> Add COVID-19 testing to the differences between the women’s and men’s tournaments that has coaches and players unhappy in Texas about what they say is a growing list of inequities.
The NCAA has run 8,015 tests through Sunday with only one confirmed positive at the women’s tournament using daily antigen testing. The men are using daily PCR tests, considered more accurate. A few false positives at the women’s tournament have been quickly retested using the PCR test.
Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer and Setsuko Ishiyama, the Cardinal’s director of women’s basketball, issued a statement Saturday night upset at “evidence
of blatant sexism” that is “purposeful and hurtful” leaving them feeling betrayed by the NCAA.
“Women athletes and coaches are done waiting, not just for upgrades of a weight room, but for equity in every facet of life,” according to the statement. “Seeing men’s health valued at a higher level than that of women, as evidenced by different testing protocols at both tournaments, is disheartening.”
NCAA basketball administrators apologized Friday for the differences between the tournaments and vowed to do better after photos went viral highlighting the contrast between the women’s weight room and the men.
But Stanford asked university presidents and conference commissioners for accountability on who made these decisions and why.
“This cannot continue to be business as usual,” Stanford wrote on social media with the statement.
The NCAA followed recommendations of its COVID-19 medical advisory group, collaborated with the CDC and local medical authorities at each location for testing requirements. The NCAA advisory group said either daily PCR or daily antigen testing were “equally effective models for basketball championships.”
NO. 4 KENTUCKY 71,
NO. 13 IDAHO STATE 63 SAN ANTONIO >> Rhyne Howard and Chasity Patterson scored 14 points apiece and Kentucky grinded out a win over Idaho State. The game wasn’t offensively pleasing until a wide-open fourth quarter.
NO. 5 IOWA 87,
NO. 12 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 72 SAN ANTONIO >> Freshman Caitlin Clark, the nation’s leading scorer, had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Monika Czinano also scored 23 points, and No. 5 seed Iowa beat 12th-seeded Central Michigan.
NO. 3 TENNESSEE 87,
NO. 13 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 62 AUSTIN, TEXAS >> Rennia Davis scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and No. 3 seed Tennessee used a dominant second half to beat 14th-seeded Middle Tennessee.
NO. 2 BAYLOR 101,
NO. 15 JACKSON STATE 52 SAN ANTONIO >> Moon Ursin scored a career-high 24 points, All-American NaLyssa
Smith had a doubledouble and No. 2 seed Baylor had no problem in its opener, cruising to a win over No. 15 seed Jackson State.
NO. 6 MICHIGAN 87,
NO. 11 FLORIDA GULF COAST 66 SAN ANTONIO >> Leigha Brown scored 28 points, including 17 straight for sixth-seeded Michigan at one point, and the Wolverines beat 11th-seed Florida Gulf Coast.
NO. 7 VIRGINIA TECH 70, NO. 10 MARQUETTE 63 SAN MARCOS, TEXAS >> Elizabeth Kitley had 23 points and No. 7 Virginia Tech built a big lead and held on for a win over 10 seed Marquette. The Golden Eagles used a 14-2 run to cut it to 3 with 39 seconds to go.
Alamo Region
NO. 8 OKLAHOMA STATE 84, NO. 9 WAKE FOREST 61 SAN ANTONIO >> Natasha Mack scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Oklahoma State to a victory over Wake Forest. Mack was 13-of-22 shooting, feasting on variety of shots inside, and collected her 18th double-double of the season.
Mercado Region
NO. 1 NC STATE 79,
NO. 16 NC A&T 58
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS >> Jada Boyd scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half to help top-seeded North Carolina State overcome a slow start and coast to a win over 16 seed NC A&T. N.C. State was making its fourth straight tournament appearance and 26th overall, but earned a No. 1 seed for the first time.