The second round of N.C.A.A. will conclude on Monday. women’s basketball tournament on Monday will feature established programs like Tennessee and Connecticut, unestablished programs trying to reach that level and players reaching out for March stardom.
The No. 1 seed North Carolina State plays at No. 4 Eastern Time on ESPN. The No. 1 seed North Carolina State faces the No. 9 seed Kansas State. Below are four games you can expect to be riveting. Wins don’t come easily at this stage.
All times are Eastern.
Villanova vs. Michigan | 6 p.m. | ESPNU
Two productive forwards meet.
The senior Naz Hillmon from Michigan and Maddy Siegrist from Villanova have a lot to share. Both are smaller post players, who have been under the radar for most of this season despite their productive scoring and team-defining play.
Monday will be a day when each player’s uniqueness will be revealed in Ann Arbor, Mich. Hillmon is a force around a basket, using his refined footwork and strength to score efficiently and defend effectively. Siegrist has a better range and 3-point accuracy and can cut quickly inside to make easy layups.
Both scored well in the first round. After leading Michigan to a comfortable win against American, Hillmon scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Hillmon sat in fourth quarter. Siegrist played 38 minute to push Villanova 11th-seeded into the second round, for the first time since 2018.
Michigan, a No. Michigan, a No. 3 seed, reached the round of 16 last season as a No. 6 seed. Villanova has been to the tournament’s third round once before, in 2003. Whether Hillmon’s traditional post play or Siegrist’s fast breaks and deep shots prove more effective, a team with limited tournament history will add a crucial line to its record book.
Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma | 6 p.m. | ESPN2
A chalk matchup of evenly matched team.
This game is in Norman, Okla. and is one of most evenly matched of round 2. Fourth-seeded Oklahoma was held hostage by fifth-seeded Notre Dame, who relied on 3-point shooting to stay in front.
Each team has a go to sharpshooter. In Notre Dame’s case, it is Dara Mabrey, a sister of the W.N.B.A. Marina Mabrey was the player. Dara Mabrey (a senior guard) hit five triples in round one. This is more than her usual, but a sign of what she can do.
Explore the N.C.A.A. Tournaments
Guard Taylor Robertson is fighting for a place in the 3-point-shooting record books, having etched her name all over Oklahoma’s. She made four of 10 3-point attempts in the Sooners’ first-round game, which was actually below her season average of 45 percent.
The game may come down to how the teams’ other contributors perform; neither team has a particularly strong defense, so aggressive rebounding could be crucial. Olivia Miles, a freshman guard from Ireland, recorded her second career triple-double of points and rebounds as well as assists in the first round.
Madi Williams, the Sooners’ leading scorer and rebounder, had six rebounds in the first round. This game could decide the winner.
Belmont vs. Tennessee | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Belmont aims to overthrow an in-state power
It took two overtimes but 12th-seeded Belmont reached the second round for the second year in a row.
Belmont played a tougher defense than the opponent expected and made timely baskets. It traded the lead with Oregon, fifth-seeded, before outlasting them. The sophomore guard Tuti Jones led the Bruins with 22 points, while Destinee Wells — a 2021 tournament favorite — had 16 points and 7 assists.
Now, the battle for Tennessee will take place in that state’s women’s basketball mecca, Thompson-Boling Arena, in Knoxville, the house the Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt built.
Fourth-seeded Tennessee prevailed over Buffalo in the first round, 80-67, but it wasn’t effortless. The storied program last made it out of the second round in 2016 — before that trip, it had fallen short of the round of 16 only once, in 2009. The Lady Volunteers are now due for a tournament run. They are relying upon guards Rae Burrell, and Jordan Horston to make it happen.
Tennessee’s Tamari Key could be the difference maker. She is 6-foot-6 and has several inches more height than the tallest Belmont players. Although they defended Oregon’s 6-foot-7 Sedona Prince well, the Bruins could be vulnerable if Key and her teammates find a way to exploit the mismatch. Belmont is well placed to defeat another giant.
Central Florida vs. Connecticut | 9 p.m. | ESPN
UConn faces an ex-conflict foe.
The No. 2 seed Connecticut will take on the No. 7 seed Central Florida will be playing for the first-ever time in N.C.A.A. tournament play, however the teams are well-versed in their competitions over the years in the American Athletic Conference. The Knights are currently 0-13 against UConn.
Central Florida is a veteran team that seeks to upset Storrs in Conn. Central Florida has perfected its defense and allows opponents 47.6 per game, the lowest Division I score.
UConn will be a formidable opponent for that defense due to the recent return of sophomore Paige Bueckers from injury. This Huskies team will also test the Knights’ usually low-scoring offense, which caught fire against Florida.
Other games on Monday
-
No. 11 Princeton vs. No. 3 Indiana, 8 p.m. ESPNU
-
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Louisiana State, 8 p.m., ESPN2
-
No. 5 North Carolina vs. 4 Arizona, 10 p.m., ESPN2
Source: NY Times
