Kiki Rice reflects on being a female athlete and the growing popularity of women’s sports
Kiki Rice reflects on women’s sports as a whole, what it mean’s to be a female basketball player, and how she expects it to grow in the future.
Sports Seriously
It’s conference tournament time in women’s college basketball, which means it’s the last chance to impress the selection committee.
The No. 1 seeds are still up for grabs. As many as eight teams can claim those coveted spots.
The Big Ten can become the biggest beneficiary and could see 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament, which would break an all-time record. Meanwhile, in the ACC, a No. 1 seed is virtually Notre Dame’s to lose if it can win the conference tournament.
After the trophies are hoisted, teams will have a week to rest before the Women’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show on March 16.
Here are five games to watch this weekend, each a rematch of a regular-season meeting:
No. 2 USC vs. Michigan, Big Ten semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
JuJu Watkins, the front-runner for Player of the Year, continued her assault on the scoreboard, tallying 31 points and 10 rebounds as the Trojans held off Indiana in the conference quarterfinals. The Wolverines were impressive in their stomping of Maryland in their quarterfinal matchup.
Michigan is a different team than the one that lost by 20 to the Trojans in late December. To neutralize Watkins and keep the game close, Michigan must hit 3-point shots and get the Trojans in foul trouble.
No. 14 North Carolina vs. No. 8 North Carolina State, ACC semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2
The Wolfpack know what’s at stake. The tournament’s No. 1 seed also has a chance to break its way into a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if it can run the table this weekend.
North Carolina beat NC State 66-65 in Chapel Hill three weeks ago, handing State one of its two ACC losses. The Tar Heels’ balance on offense is enhanced with the return of Reniya Kelly and Alyssa Utsby, two of their four double-digit scorers, from injuries.
No. 5 South Carolina vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, SEC semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The last time these two teams played, in Columbia on Jan. 19, Oklahoma found itself down 19 after one quarter and ended up losing by 41. The things that get the Sooners beat showed up in that game as they turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 32 South Carolina points.
South Carolina, looking for its third straight SEC tournament title, got by Vanderbilt, nearly blowing a 25-point halftime lead. Chloe Kitts had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the balanced Gamecocks also got 15 points from MiLaysia Fulwiley and 13 from Sania Feagin.
No. 7 TCU vs. No. 16 West Virginia, Big 12 semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Horned Frogs, the regular season conference champions, got a scare from Colorado in the quarterfinals, but Hailey Van Lith’s five 3-pointers and 24 points were enough to advance. Sedona Prince added 18 points.
TCU awaits the fourth-seeded Mountaineers, who dispatched Kansas State in their quarterfinal matchup.
In their first matchup, a 71-50 TCU victory, West Virginia couldn’t get anything going offensively and shot 31%. The Mountaineers were dominated in the paint and on the boards and their two leading scorers, JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison, combined to score only 24 points. They must put up big numbers this time to advance.
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 9 LSU, SEC semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Tigers had lost two of three coming into the tournament but got right with a dominant win over Florida, while Texas and SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker needed every one of her 19 points and seven rebounds to squeak by Ole Miss.
The Longhorns are riding a 14-game winning streak and have probably locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens. LSU is not out of the running for one of those slots but would need some help. The Tigers need to beat the nation’s top team first to get any consideration.
