Women’s March Madness Games on Friday 3/18

(All times listed are for the Eastern time zone)

Assists per game = apg | Blocks per game = bpg | Points per game = ppg | Rebounds per game = rpg | Steals per game = spg

11:30 a.m. #8 Miami vs #9 South Florida (Greensboro Region)

Miami Hurricanes (20-12) – The Hurricanes, a Bubble team, enter as one of the ACC’s at-large teams after making a run to get into the ACC’s championship game, which they lost to NC State (#1).

• Key Player: Kelsey Marshall who leads the Hurricanes with an average 14 ppg and has the second highest total assists (88) and steals (44) on the team.

South Florida Bulls (24-8) – The Bulls, a Bubble team going into Sunday night, enter as the only at-large team from the American conference despite having lost in the conference championship to UCF (#7 seed).

• Key Player: Bethy Mununga who has the second highest ppg (10.7) on the Bulls, the highest average rpg at 11.6, and has 35 blocks this season

Gonna leave it all on the floor tomorrow 🙌 pic.twitter.com/YSV3MQAua7

— Canes Women’s BBall (@CanesWBB) March 18, 2022

1:30 p.m. #7 Colorado vs #10 Creighton (Greensboro Region)

Colorado Buffaloes (22-8) – The Buffaloes enter as an at-large team and, specifically, one of the Pac-12’s at-large teams after losing to Stanford (#1 seed) in the Pac-12 tournament.

• Key Player: Mya Hollingshed who averages 14.1 ppg and 7.5 rpg for the Buffaloes.

Creighton Bluejays (20-9) – The Bluejays, a Bubble team going into Sunday night, enter as one of the Big East’s at-large teams after being upset in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament by Seton Hall, who did not make the tournament.

• Key Player: Emma Ronsiek who leads the Bluejays with 15.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 35 blocks this season.

Team Watch: The Bluejays lead the country in apg, 20.9, and second in the country in total assists, 606.

1:30 p.m. #7 Ole Miss vs #10 South Dakota (Wichita Region)

Ole Miss Rebels (23-8) – The Rebels enter as an at-large team and, specifically, one for the SEC’s at-large teams after losing to South Carolina (#1 seed) in the semi-finals of the SEC tournament.

• Key Player: Shakira Austin, who averages 15.4 ppg and 8.9 rpg, shoots 47.5% from field-goal range, and leads the team in total blocks this season (63).

It’s time to 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬

🏀 NCAA Tournament First Round-Wichita Region
🆚 vs. No. 10 South Dakota
📍Waco, Texas
🏟️ Ferrell Center
🕧 12:30 p.m. CT
📺 ESPN2
💻 https://t.co/7lSf2WuQQG
🎙 https://t.co/6ECNtqpwM7 pic.twitter.com/rPZ9zYmbQA

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 18, 2022

South Dakota Coyotes (27-5) – The Coyotes enter as the Summit champion, after upsetting South Dakota State in the championship game and as the only team representing the Summit conference.

• Key Player: Liv Korngable, who shoots 50% from field-goal range and 40.8% from three-point range; leads the team in assists (117); and averages 12.8 ppg while playing on average 31.7 minutes.

Team Watch: The Coyotes lead the country in three-pointers made/taken percentage, 39.2%, and fourth in the country in field goals made/taken percentage, 47.8%.

2:00 p.m. #1 South Carolina vs #16 Howard (Greensboro Region)

South Carolina Gamecocks (29-2) – The Gamecocks enter as one of the SEC’s at-large teams, the AP’s Top 25 #1 team, and as the overall #1 seed after an impressive season despite losing to Kentucky (#6 seed) in the SEC championship game.

• Key Player: Aliyah Boston, one of the favorites for National Player of the Year; is a finalist for both the Lisa Leslie Award for Centers and the Naismith Award for Defensive Player of the Year; unanimously made the AP’s first team All-America; who is currently on a 24-game-straight streak of 10+ points and 10+ rebounds; has the second most double-doubles this season (25); and is fifth in the country in total rebounds (1390).

Team Watch: The Gamecocks are first in the nation in total blocks (242), third in total rebounds (1477), third in rebounds per game (47.7), and fourth in their scoring margin (19.6).

Howard Bison (20-9) – The Bison enter as the MEAC champion, after defeating Norfolk State, and will be the only team from their conference in the tournament this year.

• Key Player: Destiny Howell, who averages 12.8 ppg, shoots 28.8% from three-point range, and has 41 steals this season.  Krislyn Marsh, who shoots 52.6% from field-goal range, has a total of 199 rebounds for an average of 7.1 rpg, and has 31 blocks this season.  Iyanna Warren, who has a total of 109 assists for an average of 4.2 a game.

2:30 p.m. #5 Virginia Tech vs #12 Florida Gulf Coast (Spokane Region)

Virginia Tech Hokies (23-9) – The Hokies enter as one of the ACC’s at-large teams, after being ranked in the AP’s Top 25 during the regular season, and after losing to NC State (#1 seed) in the ACC tournament semi-finals.

• Key Player: Elizabeth Kitley, who is a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award for Centers and AP third team All American.

Let’s start this dance

🆚 » FGCU
⏰ » 2:30 PM
📺 » ESPNU pic.twitter.com/VkEMmesuqf

— Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball (@HokiesWBB) March 18, 2022

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (29-2) – The Eagles enter as the ASUN champions, after defeating Jacksonville State and as the only team representing this conference in March Madness.

• Key Player: Kierstan Bell, who is a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for Shooting Guards and averages 23.2 ppg.

Team Watch: The Eagles’ scoring margin is first in the nation at 20.8.

2:30 p.m. #8 Nebraska vs #9 Gonzaga (Wichita Region)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (24-8) – The Cornhuskers enter as an at-large team, specifically for the BIG10 conference, after losing to Iowa (#2 seed) in the semi-finals of the BIG10 conference.

• Key Player: Sam Haiby, who leads the team with 16.8 ppg, assists (115), steals (32), and total rebounds (176) this season, meaning she averages 6.8 rpg; and she is capable of shooting 37.4% from three-point range.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-6) – The Bulldogs enter as the WCC champion after upsetting BYU (#6) in the championship game.  They are the only two teams from the WCC in March Madness.

• Key Player: Melody Kemptom, who leads the team with 10.9 ppg, field goal percentage (54%), and total rebounds (201) this season, meaning she averages 6.3 rgp.

Let the madness begin. 😏 pic.twitter.com/xy6gAEHUpA

— Gonzaga Women’s Basketball (@ZagWBB) March 18, 2022

4:00 p.m. #2 Iowa vs #15 Illinois State (Greensboro Region)

Iowa Hawkeyes (23-7) – The Hawkeyes enter after finishing in the AP’s Top 25; tying Ohio State (#6 seed) for regular season conference champions; and beating Indiana (#3 seed), another Top 25 team, to win the BIG10 championship, bumping them up to a #2 seed.

• Key Player: Caitlin Clark, one of the favorites for National Player of the Year; a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award for Point Guards; unanimously made the AP first team All-American; who is currently leading the nation in points-per-game (ppg) at 27.4 and assists-per-game (apg) at 7.9 – the 1^st player ever to do so; with 821 total points and 236 total rebounds this season; and who has had five triple-doubles this season.

Team Watch: The Hawkeyes lead the nation in field goal percentage at 50.5% and they come in third and fourth in apg (19.5) and total assists (584), respectively.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 😤@CaitlinClark22 is a unanimous selection for the AP First Team. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/R1UM5JvlJH

— Iowa Women’s Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 16, 2022

Illinois State Redbirds (19-13) – The Redbirds enter as the Missouri Valley champion, after upsetting Northern Iowa who had a better record at 22-10, and the Redbirds are only one of two teams from this conference in the tournament.

• Key Player: Juliunn Redmond, leads her team by averaging 17.6 ppg while shooting 48.9% from field goal range and 32.7% from three-point range; has the most assists (98) and steals (39); and has the third most rebounds this season with 138.

4:00 p.m. #2 Baylor vs #15 Hawaii (Wichita Region)

Baylor Bears (27-6) – The Bears enter as an at-large bid, specially for the BIG 12, after ranking in the AP Top 25 in the regular season and after losing the BIG 12 championship to #2 seed Texas.  

• Key Player: NaLyssa Smith, who was unanimously voted to the AP first team All-American; is tied for third in the nation for total double-doubles this season (24); has had at least one game where she had 20+ points and 20+ rebounds; and comes in second and fourth in total rebounds (1487) and total points (741), respectively.

Team Watch: The Bears are fifth in the country with 581 total assists this season.

Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (20-9) – The Rainbow Wahine enter as the Big West champion after defeating UC Irvine and as the only team from the Big West conference in the tournament this year.

• Key Player: Amy Atwell, who leads her team in ppg (17.4), rpg (6.7), and spg (1.6) while shooting 44% and 38.3% from field goal and three-point range, respectively.

5:00 p.m. #4 Maryland vs #13 Delaware (Spokane Region)

Maryland Terrapins (21-8) – The Terrapins enter as one of the BIG 10’s at-large teams, after having been ranked in the AP Top 25, and after losing in the BIG 10 quarterfinals to Indiana (#3 seed).

• Key Player: Angel Reese, who is a third team All-American (AP); who leads her team in ppg with 17.5, total rebounds with 313 (10.8 rpg), and total blocks this season with 31; and has the second most steals this season with 49.

Delaware Blue Hens (24-7) – The Blue Hens enter as the CAA champion, after upsetting Drexel to win the championship game and as the only team representing the CAA in the tournament.

• Key Player: Jasmine Dickey, who is third in the country in both ppg and total points this season with 25.1 and 752, respectively.  Ty Battle has also had a strong season for the Blue Hens and has had at least one game with 20+ points and 20+ rebounds.

IT’S GAME DAY – #MarchMadness Style! #AOW #Elite

🆚 Maryland
🕔 5 pm ET
📍College Park, Md.
🏟️ Xfinity Center
📺 @ESPNU https://t.co/KZ8d8E438U
📊 https://t.co/FSzglZtecy
🎧 https://t.co/YONYV7Gjxq
🎟️ https://t.co/lnucmA82nY pic.twitter.com/7X0b6EHMRY

— Delaware Women’s Basketball (@DelawareWBB) March 18, 2022

5:30 p.m. #7 Utah vs #10 Arkansas (Spokane Region)

Utah Utes (20-11) – The Utes enter as an at-large team, one of the Pac-12’s at-large bids, and after a lose in the conference semi-finals to Oregon (#5 seed).  

• Key Player: Gianna Kneepkens, who leads the team with 12 ppg and 4.4 rpg (137 total), has 39 assists this season, 14 blocks, and 22 steals.

Arkansas Razorbacks (18-13) – The Razorbacks, a Bubble team, enter as one of the SEC’s at-large teams, after losing in the SEC tournament’s quarterfinals to #1 overall seed South Carolina.

• Key Player: Players leading the team in statistics include Amber Ramirez (15.1 ppg), Sasha Goforth (64 blocks), Samara Spencer (93 assists), and Makayal Daniels (49 steals and 5.4 rpg).

6:00 p.m. #1 Louisville vs #16 UAlbany (Wichita Region)

Louisville Cardinals (25-4) – The Cardinals enter as one of the ACC’s at-large teams, after being upset by Miami (#8 seed) in the conference tournament’s quarterfinal round.

• Key Player: Emily Engstler, who is a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award for Small Forwards; who averages 11.5 ppg and 9.1 rpg (265 total); and has 66 assists, 52 blocks, and 70 steals this season.

𝙐𝙥 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩: Round 1 of #MarchMadness

📰: https://t.co/P57ojKDBS4#GoCards pic.twitter.com/13qZY79JzL

— Louisville WBB (@UofLWBB) March 17, 2022

UAlbany Great Danes (23-9) – The Great Danes enter as the America East champions, after upsetting Maine for the victory win, and will be the only team from this conference in March Madness.

• Key Player: Kayla Cooper, who averages 11.1 ppg, shoots 48.1% from field goal range, averages 7.2 rpg (231 total), and who has 42 assists (4^th most on team), 10 blocks (3^rd most), and 39 steals (2^nd most).

7:30 p.m. #6 Georgia vs #11 Dayton (Greensboro Region)

Georgia Lady Bulldogs (20-9) – The Lady Bulldogs enter as one of the SEC’s at-large teams, as one of the AP’s top 25 teams, and after an upset loss to Alabama, who did not make the tournament.

• Key Player: Jenna Staiti, who leads the Bulldogs with 15.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg (210 total), and 58 blocks, along with shooting 51.7% from field-goal range.  Que Morrison, who averages 13.8 ppg, leads the team in assists (129) and steals (61).

Team Watch: The Bulldogs are fourth in the nation in total blocks with 178.

Dayton Flyers (25-5) – The Flyers, a Bubble team, enter as the only at-large team from the Atlantic-10 conference despite being upset in the conference championship game by UMass (#12 seed).

• Key Player: Araion Bradshaw who, might not lead the Flyers in average ppg at 6.1, she does lead the team in average minutes played, 32.7; assists, 119 this season with the next highest Flyer with approximately 40 fewer assists; and steals, 45 this season, which is nearly 10 more than the next highest Flyer.

7:30 p.m. #8 Kansas vs #9 Georgia Tech (Spokane Region)

Kansas Jayhawks (20-9) – The Jayhawks enter as an at-large bid, specifically for the BIG 12, after losing to Oklahoma (#4 seed) in the quarterfinal round of the BIG 12 tournament.

• Key Player: Taiyanna Jackson, who is fifth in the country with total blocks this season 3.1 per game (90 total), while also averaging 8.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, and 1.7 spg.  Jackson shoots 60.3% from field goal range as well.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (21-10) – The Yellow Jackets enter as one of the ACC’s at-large teams, having been ranked in the AP Top 25, and after losing to Notre Dame (#5 seed) in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.

• Key Player: Lorela Cubaj, who is a finalist for the Naismith Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year and who averages 10.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.4 spg, and 1.3 bpg.

8:00 p.m. #2 Texas vs #15 Fairfield (Spokane Region)

Texas Longhorns (26-6) – The Longhorns enter as the BIG 12 champion, after upsetting Bayler (#2 seed) in the BIG 12 championship game and having been ranked in the AP Top 25.

• Key Player: Three players average double digit ppg: Aliyah Matharu (12.5) and she averages 1.7 spg (54 total); Rori Harmon (11.5) and she averages 4.6 rpg (146), 4.8 apg (152 total), and 2.9 spg (81 total); and Joanne Allen-Taylor (11.1) and she averages 1.8 apg (59 total).

NCAA First Round. Friday. 7 PM.

See y’all there 🤘#HookEm

— Texas Women’s Basketball (@TexasWBB) March 17, 2022

Fairfield Stags (25-6) – The Stags enter as the MAAC champion, after beating Manhattan in the championship game, and will be the team representing the MAAC in the NCAA Tournament.

• Key Player: Lou Lopez-Senechal, who averages 19.6 ppg by shooting 44.8% from field goal range and 40% from three-point range; averages 4.6 rpg (137 total); has 13 blocks for the season; and has 30 steals for the season.

10:00 p.m. #3 Iowa State vs #14 UT Arlington (Greensboro Region)

Iowa State Cyclones (26-6) – The Cyclones enter as one of the BIG12’s at-large teams, as one of the AP’s top 25 teams, and after losing to Texas (#2 seed), in overtime, during the BIG12 tournament. (Texas won the championship)

• Key Player: Ashley Jones, who is a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award for Small Forwards; is a second team All-American (AP); and who has 2,000+ points and 1,000+ rebounds in her college career, joining this club during the 2021-2022 season.

🚨 𝙂𝘼𝙈𝙀𝘿𝘼𝙔 🚨

🆚 UT Arlington
📍 Ames, Iowa
🏟️ Hilton Coliseum
⏰ 9 PM
📺 ESPNU
🎟️https://t.co/JabzKheUok
💻 https://t.co/fPJwTbrCmx
📊 https://t.co/w3ALcgRPV5

🌪️🏀🌪️ pic.twitter.com/uJ38HOQrbA

— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) March 18, 2022

Team Watch: The Cyclones are second in the country in three-point percentage, making 39% of their shots.

UT Arlington Mavericks (20-7) – The Mavericks enter as the Sunbelt champion, after upsetting Troy and ending their 10-game winning streak, and as the only team to represent the Sunbelt conference.

• Key Player:  Starr Jacobs, who averages 21 ppg (13^th in the country), 6.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, and 2.1 spg, also shoots 54.8% from field goal range.

10:00 p.m. #1 Stanford vs #16 Montana State (Spokane Region)

Stanford Cardinal (28-3) – The Cardinal enter as the Pac-12 champion, after being Utah (#7 seed), and ranking in the AP Top 25 during the regular season.

• Key Player: Haley Jones, who was voted onto the AP first team All-American, is a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award for Small Forwards, and had a triple-double this season.   Cameron Brink, who was voted onto the AP third team All-American, is a finalist for the Naismith Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year, and had a game this season with 20+ points and 20+ rebounds.

Team Watch: Stanford is tied for second in the nation with 185 total blocks this season.

Montana State Bobcats (22-12) – The Bobcats enter as the Big Sky champion, after beating Northern Arizona, and will be only Big Sky team seen in March Madness this year.

• Key Player: Darian White, who averages 15.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg (162 total), 4.3 apg (142 total), and 2.5 spg.  Kola Bad Bear, who averages 11.1 ppg, 5 rpg (171 total), .4 bpg (14 total), and 1.2 spg.