Southern California (USC) 84 Indiana 79
stories by: Nick Jenkinson, Excel H Sports
photos by: Tony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network
Trojans Get Enough “JuJu” to Survive the Hoosiers
By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports
Two elite athletes Watkins and Garzon
The top seed USC Trojans made thier Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament debut getting all they could handle from the #9 seed Indiana Hoosiers 84-79 Friday Afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the Quarterfinals presented by TIAA. USC is 27-2 and will play in the Semifinals tomorrow at 3 PM against Michigan or Maryland. Indiana is 19-12 and will wait for the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday Night March 16, at 8 PM on ESPN to find out where the Hoosiers will be for the big dance.
Watkins sets up her next victim
Big Ten Player of the Year Juju Watkins led the Trojans with 31 points and 10 rebounds for her 7th double double of the season. The Sophomore from Los Angeles went 10-19 from the field, 1-3 from three point range and 10-13 free throw line. Watkins had 3 steals, 2 assists and a block.
Iriafen drives to the basket
Kiki Iriafen scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her 10th double double of the season and fouled out with 54.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Avery Howell added 10 points as the Trojans finished the game 29-62 from the field for 46 percent, 6-21 from three point range for 28 percent and 20-31 from the free throw line for 64 percent.
Avery Howell nails a three-pointer
Without Center Rayah Marshall who was out due to illness. The Trojans pulled down 40 rebounds, 17 assists, 8 steals, 5 blocks and committed 16 turnovers. USC who did not score a point fron its bench against Indiana in January got 7 points off its bench from Clarice Akunwafo who had 4 points and 3 points from Malia Samuels.
Yarden looking for one of her famous assists
Yarden Garzon led Indiana with 23 points and drained five triples and went 6-6 from the free throw line. Chloe Moore-McNeil added 17 points going a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line. Shay Ciezki scored 15 points and Karoline Striplin added 10 points. Sydney Parrish scored 8 points. Lilly Meister added 4 points, Lexus Bargesser scored 2 points and Juliana LaMendola played but did not score.
Shay Ciezki drives to the basket
Indiana finished the game 23-58 from the field 39 percent, 8-19 from three-point range for 42 percent and 25-27 from the free throw line for 92 percent. Indiana pulled down 35 rebounds, dished 16 assists, 6 steals, 6 blocks and committed 15 turnovers.
There were 5 ties and 9 lead changes as the game was battle throughout as USC led 23-18 after the first quarter. USC led 29-21 with 6:56 left in the second quarter as Indiana fought back to get within two 31-29 with 2:50 left in the second quarter. USC led 38-34 at halftime as Indiana outscored USC 16-15 in the second quarter.
Moore-McNeil scores for the Hoosiers
Indiana tied the game at 40-40 on two free throws by Chloe Moore-McNeil and took the lead 42-40 on two Shay Ciezki free throws. USC tied the game at 42 in a Kiki Iriafen bucket and Ciezki gave the Hoosiers the lead 44-42. Lilly Meister went down with 5:53 left in the third quarter and returned with 1:13 left. Indiana outscored USC 23-21 in the third quarter but trailed 59-57 at the end of the third quarter.
USC outscored Indiana 25-22 in the fourth quarteras Trojans got back-to-back three pointers from Talia Von Oelhoffen and JuJu Watkins to push the USC lead to 77-68 as Indiana could not get over the hump as the Trojans hit 7 three throws to seal the win.
Michigan 98 Maryland 71
stories by: Nick Jenkinson, Excel H Sports
photos by: Tony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network
Wolverines dismantle Terrapins by 27 Points
By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports
The #5 Seed Michigan Wolverines handled the #4 Seed Maryland Terrapins 98-71 in the in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA Friday Afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Michigan will face top seed USC tomorrow at 3 PM in the first semifinal.
Michigan is 22-9 on the season and Maryland falls to 23-7. Michigan jumped out to a 27-6 lead after the first quarter as Maryland outscored the Wolverines 31-14 in the second quarter as the Wolverines led 41-37 at halftime. Michigan went on a 28-12 third quarter run to lead 69-49 at the end of the third quarter. Michigan had the game in hand outscoring Maryland 29-22 in the fourth quarter.
Hobbs Drops a Three
Jordan Hobbs led Michigan with 23 points along a combined 42 points from the Freshman duo of Syla Swords and Olivia Olson. Swords had 22 points, and Olson has 20 and the trio scored 65 of the teams 98 points. Michigan went 36-59 from the field for 61 percent, 12-23 from the three-point line for 52 percent and 14-20 from the free throw line for 70 percent.
Olson rebounds Terp shot
Michigan pulled down 31 rebounds, dished 28 assists, 11 steals, 3 blocks and committed 17 turnovers. Michigan loves to score in transition and their ability to share the ball and knock down the triple and owned the boards led to the Wolverines keeping their Big Ten Tournament hopes alive.
Swords shoots dagger
Sarah Te-Bissau led Maryland with 25 points and playing all 40 minutes. “Sarah is a warrior out there and did a great job of leading us in the comeback” Maryland Head Coach Brenda Freese said after the game. Christina Dalce scored 19 points and Michigan did.a good job of holding Kaylene Smikle to 10 points. Maryland’s leading scorer Shyanne Sellers was held to 2 points on 1-3 shooting. Mir McLean added 10 points off the bench.
Maryland finished the game 27-56 from the field for 48 percent, 4-13 from three-point range for 30 percent and 13-20 from the free throw line for 65 percent. The Terrapins pulled down 27 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 steals, 1 block and committed 21 turnovers.
“Everybody comes ready to play in March and we need to reevaluate after this game and get ready for the NCAA Tournament” Maryland Head Coach Brenda Freese said after the game. Both of these teams will be in the NCAA Tournament and Maryland will wait nine days to learn who and where they are playing when the NCAA Tournament Selection Show announces the field of 68 on Sunday March 16th at 8 PM on ESPN.
UCLA 85 Nebraska 74
stories by: Nick Jenkinson, Excel H Sports
photos by: Tony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network
Betts and the Bruins Too Much For the Huskers.
The #2 Seed UCLA Bruins took care of the Nebraska Conrhuskers 85-74 in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA Friday Night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. UCLA improves to 28-2 and Nebraska drops to 21-11. UCLA advances to face either Iowa or Ohio State Tomorrow at 5:30 in the second semifinal.
Betts on her way to a big night
Big Ten Defensive Player of Year Lauren Betts scored 28 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked 7 shots. The 6-7 Betts has been a force all season for the Bruins with her 17th double-double of the season and her seven blocks is the most since she had 7 against Penn State on January 15.
Gabriela knocks down a three
Gabriela Jaquez scored 23 points hitting three triples and going 4-4 from the free throw line. Kiki Rice added 14 points. UCLA went 30-68 from the field for 44 percent, 6-29 from three point range for 20 percent and 19-23 from the free throw line for 82 percent. UCLA pulled down 39 rebounds dished out 24 assists, 9 blocks, 7 rebounds and committed 11 turnovers.
Rice ready to pass to Betts
Freshman Britt Prince scored 24 points to lead Nebraska as she hit four three pointers. Alexis Markowski had 11 points and 4 rebounds, but she fouled out in the fourth quarter. Alberte Rimdal scored 10 points off the bench.
Alexis Markowski puts up one on Betts
Rimdal drives to the bucket
Nebraska went 30-52 from the field for 48 percent, 7-18 from three-point range for 39 percent and 7-8 from the field for 87 percent. The Huskers pulled down 27 rebounds, dished out 16 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks and committed 15 turnovers.
Freshman Britt Prince
UCLA led 27-17 after the first quarter. Nebraska responded in the second quarter outscoring the Bruins 22-14 as the Bruins led 41-39 at halftime. UCLA took control in the second half outscoring Nebraska 44-35 in the second half. UCLA led 62-55 at the end of the third quarter.
Nebraska was playing their third game in three days and while the Huskers gave it their all they ran out of gas and they couldn’t stop Betts inside and Betts made her presence felt on defense and Jaquez came out to the start the game on fire as UCLA looks to be on a collision course with crosstown rival USC if they both survive the semifinals.
Ohio State 60 Iowa 59
stories by: Nick Jenkinson, Excel H Sports
photos by: Tony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.