CITRON STEPS UP FOR IRISH
Forward Maddy Westbeld scored 20 points and led No. 3 seed Notre Dame (26-5) to an 82-56 victory over No. 14 seed Southern Utah (23-10) in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament in South Bend, Indiana.
“I’m just ecstatic about this win,” coach Niele Ivey said. “It was such a dominant performance.”
Guard Sonia Citron chipped in 14 points and a season-high six assists. The team’s leading scorer, she transitioned into the team’s primary facilitator with star guard Olivia Miles out for the remainder of the season with an undisclosed knee injury.
“The fact that [Citron] turned into that position — something that she’s never done before — it’s just remarkable and just shows you who she is as a player,” Ivey said. “She can receive information, and she translates it right away. She did an incredible job of pushing the pace.”
Lauren Ebo had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Megan Jensen led Southern Utah with 11 points.
“Notre Dame is a great team,” coach Tracy Sanders said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. We knew they were big. I’m proud of our fight.”
Notre Dame jumped out to a 16-0 lead and kept its foot on the gas.
“I thought it was imperative that we came out that way,” Ivey said. “We hadn’t played in two weeks.”
IOWA 95, SE LOUISIANA 43
Caitlin Clark had 26 points and 12 assists and Monika Czinano added 22 points as the second-seeded Hawkeyes (27-6) routed the No. 15 Lady Lions (21-10) in Iowa City.
Hannah Stuelke added 13 points for Iowa. Clark, a first-team All-American, added seven assists. She was 9-for-14 from the field.
The Hawkeyes, playing in front of a sellout crowd of 14,382, never trailed. They led 2817 at the end of the first quarter and 54-32 at halftime. Iowa shot 60.6% in the first half, 60% for the game.
Iowa’s defense held the Lady Lions to just 25.4% shooting for the game, including 3 of 32 from the field in the second half.
MARYLAND 93, HOLY CROSS 61
Abby Meyers scored 16 points and Diamond Miller added 13 points and eight rebounds as the No. 2 seed Terrapins (26-6) rolled over the No. 15 Crusaders (24-9) in College Park, Maryland.
Maryland scored the first 14 points. and was able to give its top players plenty of rest, with Miller, Meyers and Shyanne Sellers each playing a little over half the game. Sellers had 13 points and eight assists, and Brinae Alexander led Maryland in scoring with 18 points.
MICHIGAN 71, UNLV 59
Emily Kiser had 18 points and 10 rebounds as the No. 6 seed Wolverines (23-9) bounced the 11th-seeded Rebels, who owned a 22-game winning streak, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ✶