The women’s Sweet 16 took place last week and here’s what you need to know, and what to look forward to as the tournament winds down.
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South Carolina Vs Maryland
Maryland gave South Carolina a run for their money in their Sweet 16 matchup last Friday.
South Carolina came out on top 71-67. While Maryland had a consistent offensive showing, it was the Gamecocks who were struggling to find the same level of consistency early on. Finding their groove more in the second half, SC outscored the Terps 12-7 in the final three minutes of the game to secure the win. MiLaysia Fulwiley led with 23 points and Chloe Kitts posted yet another double-double with 15 points and 11 boards.
South Carolina will go on to play Duke in the Elite 8. This will be the second matchup between these two teams this season, the first having gone in South Carolina’s favor 81-70 back in December of 2024. The matchup will be one of the hottest games of the tournament as the game will inch the winner one step closer to the National Championship.
North Carolina Vs Duke
ACC rivals Duke and North Carolina went head-to-head to clinch the next Elite 8 spot. Both teams looked to go two out of three and advance to the next round after both taking a game from each other in the regular season. The Tar Heels started off with the offensive edge, leading 13-9 in the first quarter before Duke responded with an offensive outburst, scoring 19 and holding the Tar Heels to just seven. Coming out of the third, North Carolina had a bit more gas, but it wasn’t enough to outlast the Blue Devils who took the game 47-38. The Duke bench was the biggest surprise to come out of this game, scoring 26 points of the 47 they put up.
Duke advances to play the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Elite 8 on Sunday.
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Texas vs Tennessee
The Texas Longhorns faced off against the Tennessee Vols in an SEC rematch that saw Texas runaway in the fourth quarter, punching their ticket to the Elite 8. After Texas squeezed out a win 80-76 back in January, the game was one of the biggest postseason matchups for both squads. Tied up through three quarters, Texas dominated in the fourth, outscoring the Vols 17-9 on the way to the finish line. Though it was a game up until the halfway mark of the fourth quarter with a couple ties early on, the Longhorns did not take their foot off the gas, winning 67-59. Texas was led by Madison Booker who had 17 points, and was accompanied by Jordan Lee and Taylor Jones who chipped in 13 and 12 each.
The Longhorns look to extend their season against TCU Monday in the Elite 8 matchup, with Texas having taken their last two matchups in both January and February of last year. But with TCU’s new squad this game could go either way, and is shaping to be one of the best games all March.
Notre Dame vs TCU
Hailey Van Lith has been the talk of the tournament when it comes to TCU and the squads matchup against Notre Dame was so different. TCU took the game 71-62 but the game was back and forth up until the fourth, where TCU doubled Notre Dame’s 10 to take the win. HVL put up 26 in the victory against Notre Dame, 12 of which came in the fourth where she out scored the Fighting Irish 12-10 alone. Sedona Prince also had a big game, putting up 21 points, but the defensive stats of six boards and six blocks is what gave TCU the edge. Madison Conner also chipped in 13, which had TCU’s big three going for 60 combined. TCU advanced to the program’s first Elite 8.
The Horned Frogs will play Texas this season for the first time in the 8, hoping to keep dancing. The teams have a bit of tension building, considering Texas was TCU’s conference rival in the Big-12 and Sedona Prince spent a year at Texas back during the 18-19 season. The game is gonna be interesting to say the least so get the popcorn ready.
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UConn vs Oklahoma
Paige. Bueckers.
The talk of the town had been Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies. After feeling like they’re finally at their best after some years of injuries, the Huskies have been dominating the tournament. Paige Bueckers had a career night against the Oklahoma Sooners, to turn the game from a tight back and forth, to an 82-59 blowout single handedly. Going 6-8 from deep, a 19-point fourth quarter, and shooting just under 60% from the field, Paige was unstoppable.
The Huskies have all the tools needed to win the National Championship, but they have to get through USC in the Elite 8 to get there. The two will face off in a rematch of last year’s Final Four, without JuJu Watkins, who’s sidelined with an ACL tear.