The primary spherical of the 2024 girls’s NCAA event is wrapping up Saturday.
High-seeded Iowa rolled into the second spherical as Caitlin Clark scored 27 factors. No. 1 seed USC dealt with enterprise as JuJu Watkins scored 23 factors main the Trojans to a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Catch the ultimate motion of the evening on ESPN networks and the ESPN App.
We’re breaking down each recreation as the sector is reduce in half, and 32 groups are eradicated. And make sure you take a look at all the things we discovered Friday on Day 1.
Is there a priority about Hannah Stuelke not taking part in within the second half for Iowa? The Hawkeyes’ beginning ahead performed simply over 10 minutes within the first half and did not rating. She did not play within the second half. Stuelke mentioned she was coping with a migraine and tried to play by it, however simply did not really feel properly. She mentioned she expects to be positive for Monday’s second-round recreation. Stuelke is Iowa’s second-leading scorer (14.6 PPG) and rebounder (6.8 RPG) this season. However the Hawkeyes did not have any points defeating the Crusaders with out her, as Clark led the best way with 27 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds. And reserve put up participant Addison O’Grady had 14 factors on 7-of-9 capturing, plus 5 rebounds. “She got here off the bench and did some good issues for us,” coach Lisa Bluder mentioned of O’Grady.
What it means for Iowa: The Hawkeyes at the moment are 30-4 and did a fairly good job coping with Holy Cross’ makes an attempt to frustrate them defensively. The Crusaders packed within the paint, so Iowa made 10 3-pointers. And the Hawkeyes received the rebounding battle 50-37.
What it means for Holy Cross: The Crusaders, 21-13, completed their season as Patriot League regular-season and event champions. Additionally they acquired a First 4 victory within the NCAA event, beating UT Martin. — Michael Voepel
0:16
JuJu Watkins smacks away the layup for USC
JuJu Watkins will get it finished on the defensive finish after she swats away the layup try.
Is McKenzie Forbes USC’s new go-to participant? After all, this query is generally tongue-in-cheek. JuJu Watkins stays as “go-to” as any participant within the nation this aspect of Caitlin Clark. However Forbes’ play of late is value analyzing. If she continues to play this properly, the Trojans could have a considerably improved shot at profitable the nationwide title. Towards Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, her 23 factors (9-of-14 capturing in 29 minutes) tied her with Watkins for the team-high mark. And Forbes is coming off a 26-point efficiency within the Pac-12 event championship recreation and 17 factors in opposition to UCLA within the semifinals.
What it means for USC: The Trojans made certain there was no stress of their first-round recreation after a 21-4 first quarter. However taking the court docket as a No. 1 seed for the primary time since 1986 is a giant deal for a program that, due to Watkins, shall be a part of the nationwide dialog for years to return.
What it means for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: To name themselves Southland Convention event champs and NCAA event individuals for the primary time makes this the very best season in Islanders’ program historical past. –Charlie Creme
0:17
Hannah Hidalgo threads a go to Sonia Citron for two
Hannah Hidalgo makes a powerful bounce go to Sonia Citron, who lays within the rock for 2.
How far can Notre Dame’s Large Three take the Irish? With simply six wholesome scholarship gamers, Notre Dame should rely closely on Hannah Hidalgo, Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld. Within the ACC event championship recreation, it was Hidalgo and Westbeld that carried Notre Dame to the title. At present, it was nearly completely Citron who pushed the Irish to the second spherical. Her 29 factors allowed the Irish to beat the Golden Flashes regardless of Hidalgo and Westbeld capturing a mixed 9-of-27 from the sector. Notre Dame acquired out forward early and was by no means actually threatened by Kent State, however for the workforce to make a deep run, each member of the large three must ship.
What it means for Notre Dame: This was the artwork of shutting down a possible upset early. Notre Dame scored 18 straight factors within the first quarter and by no means appeared again. Although Kent State outscored the Irish within the second half, the result of the sport was by no means in jeopardy. Regardless of Citron, Hidalgo and Westbeld all nonetheless taking part in to the ultimate buzzer as a result of Niele Ivey merely has no different choices, the minutes weren’t intense, so Notre Dame must be rested sufficient for the second spherical.
What it means for Kent State: The Golden Flashes completed third within the MAC and made their first journey to the NCAA event since 2002. This was a profitable season by any measure. — Charlie Creme
2:05
Paige Bueckers notches 28-point double-double in event return
Paige Bueckers places up 28 factors and 11 boards to energy UConn to a win in her return to the ladies’s NCAA event.
How did the shorthanded Huskies fare of their NCAA event opener? Jackson State went 10 deep and performed a 6-foot-6 put up in Angel Jackson, however the Huskies — who’re right down to eight energetic gamers (two posts) with six out for the 12 months due to damage — rolled early in Saturday’s opener. UConn used a 17-0 first-quarter run to construct its benefit and held a snug lead for the final 25 minutes of the sport. Towards a defensive-minded squad, the Huskies had been spectacular offensively, besting the Girl Tigers within the paint and from the 3-point arc as redshirt junior Paige Bueckers, senior Aaliyah Edwards and freshman Ashlynn Shade every hit the 20-point mark, and the workforce shot 50% as an entire.
Coach Geno Auriemma performed 4 gamers for 34 or extra minutes regardless of his squad being comfortably forward for many of the recreation. UConn would profit from having Qadence Samuels capable of play extra minutes (she performed simply seven Saturday) because the event goes on.
What it means for UConn: Numerous positives all the best way round. Bueckers shined in her first NCAA event recreation since April 2022, ending with 28 factors, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 0 turnovers. Shade’s large recreation (her 26 factors had been probably the most by a UConn participant of their NCAA event debut) has to offer Auriemma, who turned 70 on Saturday, confidence transferring ahead together with his youthful squad. He’ll want Shade’s classmates KK Arnold, Ice Brady and Samuels to proceed to realize confidence because the Huskies stay up for Monday and no matter lies past.
What it means for Jackson State: Returning to the NCAA event was a aim for the Girl Tigers after lacking out final season with their SWAC event loss to Southern — they usually achieved that whereas compiling a 21-game profitable streak alongside the best way. She has a senior-heavy squad, however coach Tomekia Reed has proven she is aware of what it takes to win, and that her groups won’t ever again down from the problem of taking part in extra extremely ranked packages. — Alexa Philippou
REGION 2 in ALBANY No. 2 seed UCLA 84, No. 15 California Baptist 55
0:18
Kiki Rice with the ring & hurt
Kiki Rice with the ring & hurt
How did UCLA handle with out Lauren Betts? The ESPN broadcast mentioned UCLA’s 6-foot-7 heart Lauren Betts is taken into account day-to-day with a foot damage and that UCLA is hopeful she will be able to play of their second spherical matchup Monday.
Early on, the Bruins struggled with out Betts, particularly throughout a stretch within the second quarter when UCLA’s offense stalled and Cal Baptist reduce the deficit to 3. However UCLA discovered extra of a rhythm within the second half: They shot 55.2% after the break (in comparison with 31% within the first 20 minutes), spurred largely by senior Charisma Osborne, who scored or assisted on 28 of UCLA’s 50 second-half factors and completed one dime shy of a triple-double. Sophomores Gabriela Jaquez (who began rather than Betts) and Kiki Rice had been each aggressive in Betts’ absence and had a few of their finest scoring outputs of the season with 19 and 20 factors, respectively.
UCLA did not dominate the paint prefer it usually does (they averaged 36.5 factors there heading into the sport, managing simply 24 on Saturday), however they nonetheless completed +20 on the glass, with Osborne, Jaquez and Rice combining for 29 boards alone, and had an 18-0 benefit in second-chance factors. And defensively they acquired it finished as properly, holding a high-scoring Lancers squad to 29% capturing and simply 4 for 21 from 3.
What it means for UCLA: With a chance to advance to their second consecutive Candy 16, the Bruins will subsequent sq. off in opposition to a Creighton squad that performed within the Elite Eight simply two years in the past and shot the ball at a blistering clip from 3 to start the event.
Although UCLA got here away with a snug win behind a powerful second half, all eyes will flip to Betts’ well being for the rest of the event, as her availability dramatically impacts the Bruins’ final ceiling.
What it means for Cal Baptist: The Lancers made this system’s first journey to the NCAA event for the reason that faculty’s transition to Division I and positively competed of their first-ever look Saturday, chopping the Bruins’ 22-point third-quarter benefit to 14 within the fourth. You would see the vitality this system and its followers delivered to Westwood to mark the event, and the expertise can function an incredible building-off level for Jarrod Olson’s program. — Alexa Philippou
1:39
NC State Wolfpack vs. Chattanooga Mocs – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from NC State Wolfpack vs. Chattanooga Mocs
What has occurred to NC State’s offense? Scoring has turn into exhausting to return by in Raleigh as of late. The Wolfpack have hit the 70-point mark simply twice of their previous seven video games. A 33.3% capturing day in opposition to the Mocs did not ease any issues. Aziaha James paced the best way with 19 factors in the present day and did make 5 of 10 3-pointers, however consistency behind her has been lacking. Saniya Rivers failed to succeed in double figures in any ACC event recreation and regardless of 16 factors in opposition to Chattanooga, she was solely 4-of-11 from the sector and had only one help. With a Tennessee workforce up subsequent that scored 92 factors earlier within the day, the Wolfpack might have to regain their earlier-season kind after they scored 92 in opposition to UConn and 78 in opposition to Colorado, shortly.
What it means for NC State: The time period “Survive and Advance” was born in Raleigh, and that’s precisely what the Wolfpack did in opposition to Chattanooga. In NCAA event play that’s sufficient. After shedding within the first spherical a 12 months in the past, this could really feel good. These video games are robust for coaches assembly their former packages, like Wes Moore was. He coached at Chattanooga from 1998 to 2013, getting the Mocs to 9 NCAA tournaments.
What it means for Chattanooga: NC State did shut down the Mocs’ finest participant, Jada Guinn, holding her to 13 factors on 5-of-15 capturing. With Guinn’s eligibility gone, incomes a 3rd straight journey to the NCAA event will get tougher. — Charlie Creme
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What this implies for Indiana: Well being has been an issue late within the season with accidents to Mackenzie Holmes, Sydney Parrish and Lilly Meister. Teri Moren mentioned that even practising has been a problem. However all appeared properly in Bloomington on Saturday afternoon. All three of these gamers performed double-figure minutes. Most significantly, Holmes appeared to maneuver properly and even blocked three photographs to go along with her 13 factors and 6 rebounds.
What it means for Fairfield: The Stags performed properly within the first half. For stretches, they had been the higher workforce. Their 31-2 report will not quickly be forgotten and with coach Carly Thibault-DuBonis signing a contract extension this week, Fairfield must be taking part in extra significant video games in March very quickly. — Charlie Creme
0:18
Jewel Spear buries a 3 from the highest of the important thing for Tennessee
Jewel Spear pulls up and knocks down a triple from the highest of the important thing for the Girl Volunteers.
How properly did the Girl Vols bounce again from the loss to South Carolina within the SEC event? Because the saying goes, time heals all wounds. No less than, it did for Tennessee. Having two weeks to get better from the heartbreak of shedding to the Gamecocks within the SEC event semifinals on Kamilla Cardoso’s banked-in 3-pointer did the Girl Vols properly. They dominated Inexperienced Bay. Typically one workforce is simply greater, stronger and quicker. That was the case for Tennessee in opposition to the Phoenix. Inexperienced Bay’s tallest participant is 6-foot-2. Tennessee has 5 gamers that tall. And the Girl Vols dominated in all of the related classes — rebounding (43-26), factors within the paint (40-26) and second-chance factors (14-10). Having the very best participant on the court docket additionally helps. Rickea Jackson, whose professional inventory appears to be rising with each recreation, did no matter she needed on her approach to 26 factors on 10-for-14 capturing in 29 minutes.
What it means for Tennessee: The Girl Vols’ rebounding dominance was not shocking in opposition to Inexperienced Bay. Tennessee’s sizzling capturing was. Earlier than the benches emptied with the sport out of attain, Tennessee was capturing almost 65% general and 50% from 3-point territory. This from a workforce that was 43.0% and 31.9%, respectively, on the season. A Tennessee workforce that shoots like this and has Jackson taking part in at this elite degree is a menace to make its first Elite Eight since 2016 or first Closing 4 since 2008.
What it means for Inexperienced Bay: The Phoenix are properly established as one of many high mid-major packages within the nation beneath Kevin Borseth, however this was their first NCAA event look since 2018. After beating Washington State and Creighton within the common season, shedding by 29 factors will definitely come as a disappointment. — Charlie Creme
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