NCAA Women’s Tournament Elite Eight Update: Advancing Teams and Key Highlights
Half of the Elite Eight is Confirmed
The NCAA Women’s Tournament has advanced to the Elite Eight, with top seeds UCLA and South Carolina securing their positions, accompanied by the second seed Duke, after their victories on Friday. The third-seeded LSU Tigers also made headlines by defeating second-seeded NC State in the Spokane 1 region.
The upcoming matchups promise excitement as teams vie for a chance to reach the coveted Final Four.
Upcoming Matches
The regional semi-finals are set to continue on Saturday at 1 PM on ABC, featuring a rematch between Notre Dame and TCU, a game initially anticipated in November.
This article will track all the ongoing games as the race towards the Final Four heats up.
Game Summaries: Friday’s Key Matches
LSU Tigers vs. NC State
Final Score: LSU 80, NC State 73
Performance Highlights: The game saw a thrilling comeback by LSU. With 4:29 remaining and trailing by five points, Mikayla Williams and Sa Maia Smith combined to score the Tigers’ final 16 points, securing a crucial victory. Williams concluded the match with 30 points and six assists, while Smith, shaking off a knee injury, added a double-double with over 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Anesa Morrow’s remarkable performance also stood out as she became the first player since Stanford’s Nneka Ogwumike in 2010 to achieve at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Sweet 16 match.
Despite a notable effort from NC State’s Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones, LSU successfully limited their scoring, especially in the closing moments of the game.
UCLA Bruins vs. Ole Miss
Final Score: UCLA 76, Ole Miss 62
Game Analysis: The standout player for UCLA was Lauren Betts, who dominated the court with an impressive 31 points on 15-of-16 shooting. Her defensive presence was equally influential, limiting Ole Miss to just two successful shots out of sixteen attempts within the paint. UCLA’s guards, Londynn Jones and Kiki Rice, contributed significantly, scoring 20 points combined in the second half to help maintain momentum.
South Carolina vs. Maryland
Final Score: South Carolina 71, Maryland 67
Key Player: Milaysia Fulwiley emerged as a significant contributor with a career-high 23 points, leading South Carolina down the stretch. She made crucial shots, including a one-legged fadeaway that helped close the third quarter in South Carolina’s favor.
The Gamecocks faced challenges with turnovers but managed to capitalize on key moments, securing their victory against Maryland.
Duke vs. North Carolina
Final Score: Duke 47, North Carolina 38
Defensive Mastery: Duke’s defensive strategy stifled the Tar Heels, who struggled offensively, shooting 28.3% from the field. The first half produced one of the lowest scoring outputs in NCAA tournament history.
Offensively, Duke’s balanced attack saw contributions from sophomore Oluchi Okananwa, who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds and helped secure the team’s spot in the Elite Eight.
Looking Ahead
Next Matchup: South Carolina vs. Duke
Both teams will face off in an anticipated rematch. South Carolina will need to manage their turnovers and improve shooting from the field, while Duke must establish a more effective offense to advance further in the tournament.
