Alabama and Baylor are facing off for the first time in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams have strong players, but the Crimson Tide has more weapons beyond leading scorer Brittany Davis. Meanwhile, Baylor has a solid resume, beating several ranked teams.
Toledo has advanced to the Round of 32 after winning their first NCAA Tournament game since 1996. They defeated Iowa State with the help of Jayda Jansen’s 17 points off the bench.
Villanova dominated Cleveland State in the first round, led by Maddy Siegrist’s 35 points. The Wildcats’ defense held the Vikings to just 25.8% shooting.
The Red Storm nearly pulled off an upset against North Carolina, but Deja Kelly’s clutch play helped the Tar Heels survive and advance.
Middle Tennessee will need a strong performance from Kseniya Malashka to upset Colorado in their NCAA Tournament matchup.
Finally, the Colorado Buffaloes have relied on their impressive 3-point shooting to take an early lead against Middle Tennessee.
March Madness First Round Updates
The NCAA Women’s Tournament has kicked off with some exciting games on Saturday. Here are the latest updates on the first-round games.
Duke vs. Iona
The No. 3 seeded Duke Blue Devils are facing off against the No. 14 seeded Iona Gaels. Duke’s offense has been impressive, with six players contributing to the team’s nine field goals. The Blue Devils are also dominating on the rebounding front, leading Iona 15-4, and have scored 11 second-chance points. However, Iona is known for their sharpshooting beyond the arc, although they have yet to make a 3-pointer in the game. Duke has a strong defense, limiting their opponents to an average of 50.8 points per game this season.
Portland vs. Oklahoma
The Portland Pilots are giving the Oklahoma Sooners a tough time, but Oklahoma is currently leading at halftime thanks in part to Taylor Robertson’s two 3-pointers. Skylar Vann has been a force on the glass, pulling down eight rebounds and scoring five points for the Sooners. Portland’s Alex Fowler has struggled with her shooting, but has been efficient at the free throw line, making six of her seven attempts.
Louisville vs. Drake
Louisville had a close call against Drake, with the Cardinals only leading by one point with two minutes remaining in the game. However, Haley Van Lith came through in the clutch, scoring 19 of her 26 points in the second half to secure the win for Louisville. Drake had four players score in double figures, led by Katie Dinnebier’s 20 points. Both teams shot over 51% from the field.
Iona vs. Duke Preview
Iona is looking to pull off an upset against Duke in the NCAA Tournament, but it won’t be easy. Duke has an outstanding defense, allowing only 50.8 points per game. However, Iona’s defense is no slouch either, holding their opponents to an average of 54.4 points per game, which is 13th best in the country. Iona’s sharpshooting from beyond the arc, with a 40.7% success rate, could be a key factor in the game.
NCAA Women’s Tournament First Round Updates
The NCAA Women’s Tournament has been exciting so far, with several first-round games taking place on the opening day. Here are the latest updates from some of the games.
Oklahoma vs. Portland
Under coach Jennie Baranczyk, Oklahoma hopes to make it to the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament for a second consecutive season. However, they face a tough challenge from Portland, who last made the tournament in 1997. Madi Williams is the standout player for Oklahoma, averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Portland’s Alex Fowler is the player to watch, leading her team with per-game averages of 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals.
Louisville vs. Drake
Louisville and Drake played a close game in the first round of the tournament, with neither team managing to take a double-digit lead. Louisville had a shot attempt advantage through the first two quarters, but Drake had a higher shooting percentage, making 70% of their shots at one point in the second quarter. Nyla Harris helped Louisville tie the game with 22 seconds remaining, and the Cardinals ultimately won the game.
Colorado vs. Middle Tennessee
Colorado dominated Middle Tennessee in their first-round game, making an impressive 13 3-pointers on 26 attempts. Frida Formann was the standout player for Colorado, scoring 21 points and making five 3-pointers. Colorado also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Middle Tennessee 43-27.
Multiple Comeback Wins
The first day of the NCAA Women’s Tournament made history with multiple comeback wins of 16+ points:
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Ohio State came back from 16 points against James Madison
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Miami came back from 17 points against Oklahoma State
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Baylor came back from 18 points against Alabama
Colorado vs. Middle Tennessee (Second Half)
Colorado continued their impressive 3-point shooting in the second half, making 13 of their 25 attempts so far. Middle Tennessee will need to step up their game if they hope to make a comeback. Savannah Wheeler and Kseniya Malashka lead Middle Tennessee with nine points each.
Colorado has also been dominant on the glass, scoring 11 second-chance points off of their 10 offensive rebounds. Kindyll Wetta has been playing strong defense, with two steals, despite only scoring three points on 1-of-5 shooting.
NCAA Women’s Tournament First Round Updates
The first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament has seen some exciting games, with several teams fighting to advance to the next round. Here are the latest updates:
Drake vs. Louisville
The Drake Bulldogs (12) are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, taking on the Louisville Cardinals (5), who are appearing in their 12th-straight Big Dance and made the Final Four last season. Hailey Van Lith is one of the top 30 scorers in the nation, averaging 19.2 points per game for Louisville. Drake might be the underdogs, but they are Top 10 in the nation in defensive rebounds, assists, and blocks per game, as well as field goal percentage.
Baylor vs. Alabama
In an impressive comeback, Baylor overcame an 18-point deficit in the first quarter to beat Alabama. Both teams registered 14 successful shots from beyond the arc in the game, with Ja’mee Asberry leading Baylor’s offense with 26 points and Brittany Davis leading all scorers with 33 points for Alabama. The game was tied at 71-71 with 1:40 remaining, but Baylor secured the win with two free throws from Caitlin Bickle with 38 seconds remaining.
Colorado vs. Middle Tennessee
Colorado dominated Middle Tennessee in the first quarter, thanks to their impressive 3-point marksmanship, with Frida Formann and Tayanna Jones each hitting two 3-pointers. Middle Tennessee struggled offensively, going 4 of 16 from the field, but Savannah Wheeler had six points.
Cleveland State vs. Villanova
Villanova advanced to the Round of 32 after a strong performance against Cleveland State. Maddy Siegrist was the standout player for Villanova, scoring 35 points on an efficient 15-for-28 clip. Christina Dalce collected 16 rebounds for Villanova, eight of which were offensive. Destiny Leo scored 25 points for Cleveland State in an impressive losing effort.
The NCAA Women’s Tournament continues, with more exciting games to come as teams fight to advance to the next round.
NCAA Tournament 2022: Middle Tennessee vs Colorado
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Middle Tennessee faces a tough challenge in Colorado. The Blue Raiders have been enjoying their best season in years, but will need a strong performance to overcome the Buffaloes. Middle Tennessee’s Kseniya Malashka has been a standout player for the team all season, averaging 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Quay Miller is the player to watch for Colorado, averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. Tip-off is in 10 minutes.
UNC vs St. John’s
The UNC Tar Heels narrowly avoided an upset by the St. John’s Red Storm, winning the game with an and-one by Deja Kelly with just two seconds remaining. Kelly finished the game with 18 points, while Jayla Everett led the Red Storm’s comeback effort with 17 points. North Carolina’s offense outshone St. John’s, with Kennedy Todd-Williams and Deja Kelly leading the Tar Heels’ offense with 12 points each.
Villanova vs Cleveland State
Maddy Siegrist’s domination continued in the third quarter as she added nine more points to her total. By the end of the quarter, Siegrist had amassed 31 points, leading Villanova’s offense. Cleveland State managed to outscore Villanova 25-13 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 29-point deficit they faced heading into the quarter. Christina Dalce also played a pivotal role for Villanova, crashing the glass with 16 rebounds (eight of them offensive). Destiny Leo scored 25 points in an impressive losing effort for Cleveland State.
Alabama vs Baylor
Alabama started the game strong, while Baylor struggled to get going, taking five minutes to get their first basket. Brittany Davis led the Crimson Tide offense with 15 points, including six 3-pointers. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs was the only other player to score for Baylor so far, and her hand needed to be taped. At the end of the first half, Alabama was shooting at 50% while Baylor was at just 12.5% from the field.
Baylor vs Alabama: Largest comeback in NCAA history
In the game between Baylor and Alabama, the Bears pulled off the third-largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history. Alabama had an 18-point lead in the first quarter, but Baylor went on a 10-0 run early in the third quarter to get within one point. Baylor eventually took the lead halfway through the period, but Alabama didn’t let up, and the game remained competitive throughout. Caitlin Bickle’s two free throws with 38 seconds remaining helped secure the win for Baylor, and Ja’mee Asberry led the offense with 26 points. Brittany Davis led all scorers with 33 points, with each player hitting seven 3-pointers.
Colorado vs Middle Tennessee
Colorado dominated Middle Tennessee in the first quarter, thanks to their impressive 3-point shooting. The Buffaloes drained five of their first nine attempts from beyond the arc, with Frida Formann and Tayanna Jones each making two 3-pointers. Middle Tennessee struggled offensively, going just 4-of-16 from the field in the opening quarter, but Savannah Wheeler managed to put up six points. Colorado continued their impressive 3-point shooting in the third quarter, making 13 of their 25 attempts, with Quay Miller, Kindyll Wetta, and Tayanna Jones adding to the Buffaloes’ total. Miller finished the game with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Colorado won their first NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament Roundup: Toledo upsets Iowa State, Villanova cruises, and more
The NCAA Tournament has been filled with surprises, upsets, and thrilling moments so far. Here’s a roundup of some of the key games from the first round.
Toledo pulls off upset, defeats Iowa State
Toledo stunned Iowa State with a 72-56 win to advance to the Round of 32. The Rockets built their lead with a 23-point second quarter, and the Cyclones couldn’t muster the necessary momentum to complete the comeback. Jayda Jansen proved to be the spark Toledo needed for its upset, scoring 17 points — two off her career high — off the Rockets’ bench. Iowa State’s Ashley Joens struggled with her shot, going 5 of 19 from the field.
Villanova’s defense dominant in win over Cleveland State
Villanova’s defense was absolutely stifling in the first quarter, limiting Cleveland State to just 14.3% from the field. The Wildcats led by 12 points after the opening frame and never looked back, cruising to a 79-62 victory. Maddy Siegrist was the star for Villanova with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Alabama and Baylor set to clash in first-ever meeting
The No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 7 Baylor Bears are meeting for the first time ever. Alabama’s Brittany Davis leads the team in points, rebounds, and steals, but the Crimson Tide have a lot of other weapons. They can be a dangerous team from 3-point range, making 38% of their shots from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Baylor has made every NCAA Tournament since 2004 and has had an impressive season with wins over four ranked teams on the road and another on a neutral site.
St. John’s struggles offensively against North Carolina
St. John’s was held to just five points in the second quarter and went the last 5:48 of that period without hitting a field goal. North Carolina outshot the Red Storm 44.4%-24.1% from the field, but St. John’s has still not fallen into a double-digit deficit all game. UNC’s Deja Kelly is leading all scorers with 10 points.
Toledo dominates third quarter to push past Iowa State
Toledo continued its push for an upset in the third quarter against Iowa State, outscoring the Cyclones 18-17 after dominating the second quarter. Toledo’s Quinesha Lockett exploded for eight points in the third quarter, bringing her total for the game to 19. Lockett also has a team-high 13 rebounds. Iowa State closed the period on a strong 7-0 run, though, so the Cyclones aren’t out of this quite yet.
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