Most prominent NCAA Women’s Tournament: South Carolina survives against Maryland

He 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament He continued on Friday with the first day of action Sweet 16.

(Read more: 2025 WOMAN OF THE MATURE MARCH PROGRAM: Dates, locations, channels, how to see)

Duke The day began with an ancient defensive performance, since the second Blue Devils planted the third seed North Carolina. After that, No. 1 seed South Carolina his defense of the title continued when the Gamecocks returned to stop Maryland.

Later, third seed State of Louisiana Try to make its third consecutive appearance of Elite Eight, but you will have to go through seed number 2 North Carolina state To get there.

The best seed in the NCAA Women’s Tournament, UCLALimit the night with his confrontation against Ole lady While the Bruins try to return to Elite 8 for the first time since 2018.

These are all the most important moments of day 1 sweet 16:

South Carolina Survive your fear Maryland advance to the Fifth ELITE EIGHT

The round trip battle continued in the last quarter, but in the last minutes, the defenders imposed their will. Mailasia Fulwileia He had four of his 21 points game to give the advantage to the Gamecocks forever, while Chloe Kitts He made three free throws on the section. Maryland, who had three ball losses and lost two bridges during a three -minute critical race, finally reached a 3 remaining 25 seconds to turn it into a game of a score again.

However, Dawn Staley’s team clung, and went to the Eight Elf for the fifth consecutive year.

South Carolina had a 7-0 race in the middle of the third quarter to take her first advantage of the second half, but Maryland responded back while the two teams continued to fight. But in the last two minutes of the quarter, the Terps lost their last six field goals. The Gamecocks entered the final period with an advantage of 52-50.

Kaylene Smokle He led Maryland with nine points and the Terrapins obtained an advantage of 33-31 over the gamecks in part time. Maryland led in most of the first half and kept the Gamecocks without a basket for six consecutive possessions during a stretch in the second quarter.

Duke demolishes rival UNC for a trip to the eight elite

Oluchi Okanwa He recorded his third double of the season to lead the champion of the ACC Duke tournament on Friday of North Carolina 47-38 and in the Eight Elite of the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

The Blue Devils will make its 12th appearance of Elite Eight in the history of the program and will play champion number 1 and the South Carolina Defense champion or Maryland in the sown room, who was scheduled to play later on Friday at Birmingham.

Okananwa scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half along with 10 rebounds from the bank for Duke, who obtained 26 points from his bank compared to the six of North Carolina. Ashlon Jackson ended with 10 points and Toby FournierDuke’s top scorer this season that was lost the second round with a disease, had three points.

Fifth Year Senior Alyssa USTBY He had nine points in 3 of 10 shots for the Tar Heels, who fell short in his attempt to advance to his first elite 8 since 2014.

None of the teams shot the ball well. Duke fired 31% after missing his first nine field goals. North Carolina was 28% from the field.

Part of this could have been for familiarity. The teams played with each other for the second time this season less than a month ago. North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said this week that there is an additional level of comfort with a team that has just played.

But this was also two of the main defenses in the country that did it, which forced the losses of the ball, wandering and agitated shots desperate at the end of the shooting clock at the beginning of the game.

It was the first meeting in the NCAA tournament between the two teams, which have been played 111 times. North Carolina still has a slight advantage of 56-55.

Associated Press reports

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