Area players in the field
The Centennial State put only one Division I team in the women’s NCAA Tournament this year — Northern Colorado — but this state has produced several players who made it to the tournament with other teams. A look at women’s March Madness from a Colorado perspective: Savannah Smith, Northern Colorado
Smith is the Bears’ leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, while also averaging 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals as the Big Sky champions head into their first- ever tournament showing against Michigan. For her play in securing the conference title, Smith was named the Big Sky Tournament MVP. A 5- foot- 6 junior guard, Smith is a Fossil Ridge alum who helped lead the Sabercats to a Class 5A state runner- up finish in 2014.
No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 10 Northern Colorado, 3 p. m. Friday, ESPN2 Nicea Eliely, Nebraska Averaging 8.4 points in 25 starts for the Huskers, the 6foot- 1 sophomore guard from Rampart was the Nebraska defensive MVP last season as she capitalizes on hustle and athleticism to continue to make her presence felt on both ends of the floor.
No. 7 Arizona State vs. No. 10 Nebraska, 1: 30 p. m. Saturday, ESPN2 Alyssa Rader,
South Florida
The 6- foot- 2 sophomore forward is averaging 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds for the American Athletic Conference runner- up, as the Horizon graduate has proven she can contribute off the bench and as a starter. Rader has put up double- digit scoring performances six times this season, including a team- best 11 points and six rebounds in a loss to No. 1 Connecticut on Jan. 6.
No. 6 South Florida vs. No. 11 Buffalo, 11: 30 a. m. Saturday, ESPN2 Tatum Neubert, LSU
An Elizabeth graduate, the 6- foot- 2 junior forward transferred from Oregon to Baton Rouge, La., where she had to wait through a redshirt season and then recovery from a knee injury before taking the court for the Tigers in 2016- 17. This season, Neubert — who is the older sister of Highlands Ranch standout junior forward Kasey Neubert, who also overcame a knee injury in her hoops career — made one start and appeared in 18 games off the bench.
No. 6 LSU vs. No. 11 Central Michigan, 9 a. m. Saturday, ESPN2 Justine Hall, Oregon Appearing in 31 games off the bench, the Regis Jesuit graduate who began her collegiate career at Purdue has made her impact felt defensively for the Pac- 12 champions, recording 14 steals this season while averaging 8.5 minutes per game. The 5- foot- 10 senior guard has also proven to be an effective shooter from long distance when given the chance, as demonstrated by her 12- point performance against Weber State on Dec. 2 in which she went 4- of- 7 from behind the 3- point line. No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 15 Seattle, 5: 30 p. m. Friday, ESPN2 Tatum Rembao, Creighton The 5- foot- 9 freshman guard from Loveland has played in 22 games off the bench for the Bluejays, averaging 2.9 points while settling into the Omaha program.
No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Creighton, 4 p. m. Saturday, ESPN2 Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA
Onyenwere, a 5- foot- 11 freshman forward who led Grandview to its first state title last season while also earning Ms. Basketball honors, is averaging 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 33 games this season, all but one coming off the bench. No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 14 American, 1: 30 p. m. Saturday, ESPN2 TaeKenya Cleveland, American
A 6- foot sophomore forward, Cleveland is a Regis Jesuit product who’s putting up 2.3 points per game in 29 contests off the bench. During her time in Aurora, she played alongside Hall on the Raiders’ back- to- back Class 5A title teams in 2013 and 2014.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 14 American, 1: 30 p. m. Saturday, ESPN2 Kylee Shook, Louisville The 6- foot- 4 sophomore forward from Mesa Ridge is averaging 4.9 points per game as a role player for the Cardinals, as the ACC champions look primed to make a push for the national championship out of the Lexington Regional.
No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 16 Boise State, 10 a. m. Friday, ESPN Samantha Kisiel, Florida Gulf Coast
An Evergreen graduate who as a senior laid the base to the program’s run to three straight Class 4A title games, the 5- foot- 11 sophomore forward has seen time in 17 games this season for the Atlantic Sun Conference champions.
No. 5 Missouri vs. No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast, 1: 30 p. m. Saturday, ESPN2