Female torch madness: Results, analysis as elite eight is set up

ELITE EIGH is set. And the connection Duke, Lsu, South Carolina and Teased In the next round of the women’s NCAA tournament are TCU, Texas, Uconne and USC.

Matches set up on Saturday are interesting: state billing between TCU No. 2 and No. 1 Texas and also elite eight matches between Huskies-Kdo Paige Bueckers“Career High 40 points in their victory over Oklahoma-a Trojan horses who gathered despite injuries ending season Juju watkins In their round 32 games.

We were there for the whole event, and here is your guide-dull analysis of reporters on the spot in Birmingham, Alabama and Spokane in Washington-KE everything that happened in Saturday games.

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Final: Uconn 82, Oklahoma 59

As Uconn won: Paige Bueckers and steals. It is difficult to believe that Huskies were four in the half. Uconn has completely controlled the last 20 minutes and Oklahoma 50-23 finished behind Bueckers’ highest half (29 points for shooting 10 out of 14). This gave the Buecker, who was in the second quarter without a score, but in the first period he had 11, 40 points on his career-Huskies player in the NCAA tournament game. Kerry Bascom previously set a record with 39 points in 1991.

Because Sooons were reluctant to eliminate their post players from the color, Bueckers was able to regularly turn on the pull-up jumpers that were too easy for her. Bueckers fired 8-Ze-14 from Midirange and also made 6 out of 8 3-point attempts, bound to career high.

Defensively, Uconn caused confusion almost as much theft (18) as the Sooners had a field (22). Huskies did a great job when they took the front shooter Oklahoma RAEGAN BEERSin color. Beer had 10 points when shooting 3 out of 11.

UCONN key to ELITE EIGHT: Get Sarah Strong go. The Bueckers was so hot that it was hardly important that the strong, second head of the shooter Huskies, had only 11 points and missed 6 out of 7 3-point attempts before packaging. Strongs are doing well when he coped with larger beers defensively and was a factor in 16-0 third quarter of Uconn, but Huskies might need a more effective crime to return to Final Four. – Kevin pelton

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Final: USC 67, KANSAS STATE 61

As USC won: It was a battle between USC and Kansas State-Druh, which you wouldn’t expect from two teams with Top-11 offenses. During the first half, neither team shot better than 35%. In the end, the game decided which the team could hit another basket. With 30 seconds and USC by four, Serena Sundell missed the layout and Clarice Akunwafo ensured a reflection. But Wildcats couldn’t earn, needed fouls and watched USC Kayleigh heckel They sink both free throws to put the trojan horses six with just a second.

USC freshmen were huge, with Kennedy Smith and Avery Howell – Who started instead of Watkins- became the first freshman of a duo with at least 18 points in the NCAA tournament game since Paige Bueckers And Aaliyah Edwards for UConn in 2021. Their points, along with eight Heckel, joined for 45 points – the highest percentage of USC points that came from freshmen throughout the season (67%). The Trojan’s defense was also a star-84% of Wildcats shots and held them at 18 out of 47 on these shots.

What will be next for USC: If Trojan Kiki Iriafen. The senior was the second head of USC shooter throughout the season, average 18.6 points per game, but ended up with only seven points on 3-Z-13 shooting against Wildcats. Without Juju watkinsIriafen must take over more scoring responsibilities. Overall, the USC offense must do more. It will be difficult without Watkins and its 23.9 points. But he has to find a way to score – especially in color. – Kendra Andrews

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Final: Texas 67, Tennessee 59

As Texas won: Tennessee came into his match with the average Longhorns on average 87.5 points per game, while coach Kim Caldwell said she felt that her team was playing her best basketball in the opening rounds of the NCAA. The team scored 101 points in the opening against USF and 82 points on the road to make Ohio State break last week. But it was much harder to create a good look against the suffering defense of Longhorns. Lady Vols managed his second lowest point in total of the season, when Texas attacked almost every shot and put the terminals on a 3-point line. Jewel Spear and Talaysia CooperWhoever combined 29 points per game, scored a total of nine points at 4-Z-17 shooting thanks to Texas defense. Tennessee on average more than 10 made a 3-pole game. Against Texas? Only 5 out of 26. Texas remained determined on his defensive game plan and led to victory.

What will be for Texas: The storyline aimed at the match with TCU is enough for someone to inspire. First, no love is lost among schools, so there is a little strange juice on the match. Texas will return to Final Four for the first time since 2003; TCU is trying to achieve its first final. If Texas closes Tennessee, can Hailey van lith Continue her hot lane? There should be a lot of fireworks. – Andrea Adelson

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Final: TCU 71, Notre Dame 62

As TCU won: Holy frogs took control in the fourth quarter, using their size not only to get on the free throw line, but also disrupted shots and make Irish unpleasant. TCU has surpassed Notre Dame 20-10 in a decisive neighborhood and challenged almost every shot, while this first elite performance, because this unprecedented season continues. The game could be won with a defensive effort that TCU had on the trio guard Notre Dame Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Sonia lemon. These three were kept under control and combined 10 out of 44. Defense on Hidalga, one of the best players in the country, was huge. Hidalgo shot 3-Z-19 years and couldn’t get her usual buckets on a lane, and she didn’t shoot well on the infected shots or jumpers. On the other hand, Hailey van lith He came again with 26 points and became the first player, male or female to appear in the elite eight different times in their collegial career since 2000.

What will be for the TCU: We saw the durability with which this team played throughout the season, and it went through again after the third quarter found up to nine points. There was no panic, just the permanent leadership that this team expected from van lith, Sedona and their teammates. Apparently this phase is not too big for this team – and this will be essential because it will try to create a Final Four. – Andrea Adelson