The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is heating up, with teams competing in the second round for a chance to make it to the Sweet Sixteen. Caitlin Clark of Iowa continues to impress, registering her 32nd career double-double against Georgia. In another game, the No. 3 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish is trying to fend off the upset-minded Mississippi State Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech will take on South Dakota State in hopes of securing a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. The No. 7 seeded Arizona Wildcats will take on the No. 2 seeded Maryland Terrapins in a battle between two talented teams. Finally, South Carolina dominated in the second half against South Florida, extending their win streak to 40 games and securing their ninth consecutive trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament: Second Round Scores and Schedule
The second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament continues to heat up as teams fight for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16. Here are some of the latest scores and highlights from Sunday’s games:
Princeton vs. Utah
Princeton slowly but surely chipped away at Utah’s lead, winning the third quarter and outscoring the Utes 16-14. Grace Stone, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer in Princeton’s opening-round victory over NC State, played a key role in the team’s success, contributing 11 points and knocking down three 3-pointers. Utah struggled with turnovers, racking up 18 for the game.
LSU vs. Michigan
Despite shooting below 30% from the field, LSU managed to pull ahead of Michigan after an 11-0 run in the second quarter. LSU’s Angel Reese had an impressive performance with a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds — her 30th double-double of the season. Reese also collected three assists, two steals, and one block. Michigan scored a season-low in any single quarter.
Arizona vs. Maryland
Arizona beat Maryland in some key categories, including fast break points, points in the paint, and second-chance points, but were unable to secure the win. Diamond Miller led the charge for Maryland with an impressive performance, racking up 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and a block. The Terrapins outshot Arizona 53.6% – 43.8% from the field and led 20-11 in assists.
NCAA Women’s Tournament Second Round: Scores and Analysis
The NCAA Women’s Tournament continues to captivate basketball fans with nail-biting finishes and impressive individual performances. Here are some of the latest scores and highlights from the second round of the tournament:
LSU vs. Michigan
The No. 3 seeded LSU Tigers, led by head coach Kim Mulkey, are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. LSU’s star player, Angel Reese, is a National Player of the Year candidate and has been impressive so far, averaging 23.4 points and 15.5 rebounds per contest. To reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014, LSU will have to get past the No. 6 seeded Michigan Wolverines. Despite struggling against ranked opponents down the stretch, the Wolverines have the experience and size to compete against anyone.
Utah vs. Princeton
Utah is coming off a high-scoring victory over Gardner-Webb, where Alissa Pili recorded an impressive 33 points on 12-for-17 shooting. They will face a tough challenge in Princeton, who is coming off a thrilling win over NC State where Grace Stone hit the game-winning 3-pointer. Both teams fell in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament last season and are hoping to advance further this time around.
Arizona vs. Maryland
Arizona fought hard against Maryland but ultimately fell short. After trailing by 12 points in the second quarter, Arizona came back and took the lead in the final two minutes of the first half. However, Maryland responded with a dominant third quarter, outscoring Arizona 29-9. Diamond Miller led Maryland with 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Cate Reese had a strong performance for Arizona with 17 points.
South Dakota State vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech started off strong against South Dakota State, building a 23-point lead by halftime. Although South Dakota State came out energized in the second half and outscored Virginia Tech by 11 points, it was not enough to erase the deficit. Elizabeth Kitley was a force down low for Virginia Tech, recording 14 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks, while Myah Selland posted 17 points and eight rebounds for South Dakota State.
Utah vs. Princeton
In the matchup between Utah and Princeton, Jenna Johnson got Utah off to a fast start, scoring six points on all three of her first-quarter shot attempts. Kaitlyn Chen led Princeton with six points but struggled with her shot, going 1-for-6 from the field. Utah was efficient on offense, missing only three of its first nine shots.
With impressive individual performances and thrilling finishes, the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament did not disappoint. Fans are eagerly anticipating the Sweet 16 matchups, where the remaining teams will continue to battle for a chance at the championship.
NCAA Women’s Tournament Second Round: Scores and Analysis
The NCAA Women’s Tournament second round continued with more thrilling matchups and impressive individual performances. Here are some of the latest scores and highlights:
Virginia Tech vs. South Dakota State
Virginia Tech started strong, draining eight 3-pointers in the opening half against South Dakota State. Cayla King led the Hokies with three 3-pointers, while Elizabeth Kitley bounced back from a quiet first quarter to reach a near double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. However, South Dakota State came out firing in the second half, outscoring Virginia Tech 19-13 in the period to trail by 16 heading into the fourth. Haleigh Timmer scored seven of her nine points for the Jackrabbits in the third.
Arizona vs. Maryland
The No. 7 seeded Arizona Wildcats faced a tough challenge in No. 2 seeded Maryland. Maryland’s offense, which averages 79.4 points per contest, was too much for Arizona to handle as the Terrapins outshot their opponents 57.1% – 23.1% from the field. Diamond Miller led Maryland with 19.5 points per game, while Cate Reese had a strong performance for Arizona with six points.
Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame
Mississippi State put up a strong fight against Notre Dame, tying the game at 41 in the fourth quarter. However, Notre Dame shut the door on the Bulldogs’ comeback effort thanks to Lauren Ebo and Sonia Citron, who scored nine of the Fighting Irish’s final 11 points. Ebo was dominant all game, recording 10 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks, the most ever by a Notre Dame player in a NCAA Women’s Tournament game. Kourtney Weber recorded 14 points and four rebounds in the loss for Mississippi State.
Virginia Tech vs. South Dakota State
Georgia Amoore led Virginia Tech with nine first-quarter points, all from 3-pointers, against South Dakota State. The Hokies played excellent defense, forcing misses on 10 of the Jackrabbits’ first 13 shots. Although Elizabeth Kitley struggled offensively, going scoreless on four shots, she secured five rebounds.
With impressive individual performances and exciting finishes, the NCAA Women’s Tournament second round continues to provide plenty of excitement for basketball fans. Fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming Sweet 16 matchups, where the remaining teams will continue to battle for a chance at the championship.
NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Round 2: Recap of Key Matchups
The second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament saw some thrilling action as teams battled for a spot in the Sweet 16. Here are the highlights from some of the key matchups:
Iowa vs. Georgia
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, one of the top scorers and assist makers in the country, registered her 32nd career double-double with 22 points and 12 assists against Georgia. Although Georgia’s defense disrupted Iowa in the first half, Iowa’s offense gained momentum in the third quarter. The Hawkeyes had a full team effort with four players reaching double figures, including Monika Czinano who scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds. The Bulldogs competed the whole game, but three consecutive turnovers cost them a potential upset. With the victory, the Hawkeyes advanced to their ninth Sweet Sixteen in program history.
Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s Maddy Westbeld and Lauren Ebo dominated the glass for the Fighting Irish, pulling down a combined 27 rebounds against Mississippi State. Mississippi State’s offense struggled, shooting only 27.91% as a team with no player scoring more than six points. Despite the low shooting percentage, the Bulldogs played tough defense and trailed by only three points in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, Lauren Ebo’s dominant performance with 10 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks helped Notre Dame secure the victory.
Virginia Tech vs. South Dakota State
Virginia Tech had a dominant performance against Chattanooga in the opening round, and they continued their success against South Dakota State. Hokie guard Georgia Amoore poured in nine first-quarter points, all from beyond the arc. Virginia Tech’s defense forced 10 misses on the Jackrabbits’ first 13 shots, while Elizabeth Kitley secured five rebounds. South Dakota State’s Myah Selland scored a team-high 22 points against USC in the opening round, and she will need another impressive performance to help the Jackrabbits advance to the Sweet 16.
Arizona vs. Maryland
Arizona’s defense, which typically holds opponents to 64.7 points per game, will have to be solid against Maryland’s fast-paced offense, which averages 79.4 points per game. Maryland’s All-American guard Diamond Miller leads the Terrapins with 19.5 points per game, and she will be a key player for Maryland as they hope to advance to the Sweet 16. Arizona struggled against a disruptive Maryland defense, but they turned it around in the second quarter. Cate Reese leads all scorers with 12 points, shooting 5-of-7 from the field, and she has been key to Arizona’s comeback effort.
LSU vs. Michigan
Head coach Kim Mulkey has led the No. 3 seeded LSU Tigers to one of the best seasons in program history, and they are looking to continue making history with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. National Player of the Year candidate Angel Reese leads LSU with 23.4 points and 15.5 rebounds per contest. However, they will have to get through No. 6 seeded Michigan to reach the program’s first Sweet 16 since 2014. Michigan has struggled against ranked opponents down the stretch, but they have the experience and size to compete against anyone.
Utah vs. Princeton
Utah’s Jenna Johnson has been efficient, recording two steals and making all three of her first-quarter shot attempts for six points. Johnson’s efficiency has translated to the rest of the team, as Utah has missed only three of its first nine shots. Kaitlyn Chen has a team-high six points for Princeton, but she has struggled, shooting 1-for-6 from the field.
Iowa Hawkeyes and Georgia Bulldogs in battle
The No. 2 seed Iowa Hawkeyes took on the No. 10 seed Georgia Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The Hawkeyes’ Deep Roster
The Bulldogs had a strong defensive performance, not allowing Caitlin Clark to make a field goal until the final 20 seconds of the second quarter. Clark, who is one of the top scorers in the nation, finished with a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists, along with four rebounds and two steals. However, Iowa has the top offense in the nation and its deep roster helped secure a 86-53 victory over Georgia. Gabbie Marshall led the Hawkeyes with 12 points, followed by McKenna Warnock with 10.
Upset-minded Bulldogs
The Bulldogs were coming off a win against Florida State and were looking for an upset against the Hawkeyes. Although Diamond Battles led all scorers with 16 points, including two three-pointers, Georgia could not match Iowa’s offensive firepower. Iowa switched defenses several times, but Georgia was able to handle them all. Javyn Nicholson made a layup with one second left on the clock to put her team within one point before the break. However, Iowa pulled away in the second half, and three other Hawkeyes reached double figures, including Monika Czinano, who almost got a double-double of her own with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
In another game, the No. 11 seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs took on the No. 3 seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Bulldogs had played in the First Four round and upset No. 6 seeded Creighton in the first round with a solid 81-66 victory.
The last time these two teams met was in the 2018 NCAA Tournament championship game, when they were both No. 1 seeds. Notre Dame won the trophy with a 61-58 result thanks to a last-second 3-pointer by Arike Ogunbowale, who is now playing for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA.
Fighting Irish Edge Out Bulldogs
The Bulldogs’ defense tried to disrupt Notre Dame’s top offensive team, but they struggled mightily on offense. Mississippi State shot only 27.91% as a team with no one on the team having more than six points. Maddy Westbeld and Lauren Ebo dominated the glass for Notre Dame, pulling down a combined 27 rebounds. Ebo was dominant all game, scoring 10 points and blocking five shots, while grabbing 18 rebounds, the most ever by a Notre Dame player in a NCAA Women’s Tournament game. Kourtney Weber recorded 14 points and four rebounds in the loss for Mississippi State. Notre Dame ultimately came out on top, 67-58, thanks to the contributions of Westbeld, Ebo, and Sonia Citron, who scored nine of the Fighting Irish’s final 11 points.
Looking Ahead
The Hawkeyes will now move on to their ninth Sweet Sixteen in program history, where they will face the No. 3 seed Kentucky Wildcats. Notre Dame will take on the No. 6 seed Texas Longhorns in their Sweet Sixteen matchup.
South Carolina Advances to Sweet 16 with Big Second Half
South Carolina’s women’s basketball team continued their winning ways with a big second-half performance in their second-round matchup against South Florida. After trailing by just four points at halftime, the Gamecocks turned up the intensity on defense and dominated on the boards en route to a 63-34 victory. Zia Cooke led the way with 21 points while Aliyah Boston contributed a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. South Carolina extended their win streak to 40 games and secured their ninth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, the first team to do so this season.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
