March 4, 2023: Round of 32...here we come!
Wow! We saw some thrilling first-round battles. Top seeds, for the most part advanced, but there were a few surprises. Here’s a look at my thoughts on how yesterday’s first-round action played out….
The down-to-the-wire finishes
I don’t think it’d be a stretch to say that Whitman’s duel with UW-Eau Claire was the best one of the entire day. It took three overtimes to decide a winner, and the back-and-forth nature of it kept you on the edge of your seat. In the end, Whitman held off UWEC late in the third OT, winning 85-81.
With 27 seconds left in regulation, UWEC’s Jessie Ruden converted on 3 straight free throws, tying the score at 58. Whitman missed a potential game-winner with 3 seconds left, and we were into OT.
In the first OT, neither team led by more than two, as the lead changed hands four times, and once again, UWEC’s FT shooting came up key. Under tremendous pressure with 1 second left, Courtney Crouch made 2 FTs, tying the game at 66.
Now in to the second OT, Whitman took a 4-point lead, 74-70, with just 1:37 to go. Looked like the game would be won right here. But it wasn’t. Kylie Strop scored the next 4 points for the Blugolds and UWEC tied it up at 74. With six seconds to go, Strop’s layup put UWEC in front. But Elena McHargue kept Whitman’s season alive, converting on a jumper at the buzzer that forced the contest into a third OT!
It was there that Whitman gained an advantage, and held it, leading by 2 within the first 30 seconds, and opening the period on a 5-0 scoring run. UWEC cut the deficit to 3 with under 20 seconds left, but turned the ball over while trying to set up for a potential game-tying 3-pointer. Whitman closed it out from there at the FT line. What a game it was!
In a pod played at ONU, UW-Oshkosh edged Washington & Lee in a game that was decided right at the end. The 58-55 win for UWO came in the game’s final seconds, as W&L took a 55-53 lead with 1:35 to go and held until the clock ticked below 10 seconds. But the Titans did not blink under the pressure, and senior Jenna Jorgenson stepped up with what was likely the shot of the game, a 3-pointer with 3.0 seconds left. Jorgenson’s long-range swish gave way to a memorable ending for UWO, and a heartbreaking conclusion to the season for W&L, who had fought back from a 7-point deficit early in the quarter. It didn’t end without some controversy, though, and for the second time this year, W&L was involved in a game where free throws were shot after the final buzzer…only this time, it wasn’t W&L who shot the free throws. W&L’s Mary Schleuschner turned the ball over with 1 second left, and the buzzer went off, but officials later ruled that a foul had been called prior to the buzzer. UWO made both FTs, pulling out a exceptional 3-point win over a very good, yet underrated W&L squad.
In a real thriller, Skidmore pulled out a three-point win over Johns Hopkins after struggling greatly in the first quarter. In fact, JHU went on a 7-0 run to start the game, and led 20-10 after the opening quarter. But Skidmore never quit, and it paid off in the end. With 54 seconds left, Skidmore completely erased what had been a 12-point JHU lead, tying the score at 59. Andi Levitz put Skidmore in front with her free throw at the 24-second mark, and Julia Blanck’s block of what seemed to be a sure layup from Jadyn Murray at the 10-second mark was incredibly key. That block gave possession back to Skidmore, and JHU had no choice but to foul. JHU had a 3-point look with 4 seconds left, but the shot did not go. Instead, Skidmore, who got into the tournament by beating Ithaca in the Liberty League championship, kept its season alive , winning 82-79.
Marietta got past Eastern Connecticut, 61-57, and it was a two-point game for the final 2 minutes, with E Conn actually holding a 57-55 advantage, before Marietta found a spark, and closed the game on a 6-0 run. This is one of the first times I saw Marietta win a big game, and get outrebounded. E Conn had a 33-32 advantage on the boards, which I imagine was a key in their gameplan, and 40 points in the paint to Marietta’s 28. But I was very impressed by the consistency at the FT line from Marietta; 18 of 19 is not an easy mark, and ended up proving to be one of the main difference-makers. E Conn was just 7-of-10 at the FT line.
Dominant efforts
Smith got hot from 3-point range early, and showed just why the Pioneers were the top seed in the tournament, dominating Morrisville State, 100-50. Smith had 40 points alone in the 1st quarter and shot 51.3 percent on 3-pointers, going 20-for-39.
Gustavus Adolphus also came out firing in the 1st quarter of its game against Ohio Wesleyan, ending up with an 84-68 win. Four Gustavus starters scored in double figures and they ended up with 46 points in the paint to OWU’s 26.
Bridget Monaghan had 19 points for Scranton and shot the ball very well, leading to the Lady Royals’ 64-45 win over St. Joseph (Maine). I really like Scranton’s chances to make a deep run in this tournament. They are balanced, and have plenty of scoring weapons.
CNU didn’t struggle much against Brooklyn, winning 89-52 on their home court. Interestingly, the only CNU player in double figures in points, Anaya Simmons, played only 11 minutes and left the game with what appeared to be a serious knee injury. I’ll have to ask around, and see if there’s an update on her condition. The Captains are so deep that they can attack from virtually anywhere on the floor. Probably the pick from most people to win it all in Dallas when this tournament is said and done.
Really excited to see Millikin battle Transylvania tonight…Transy took down SAA champ Rhodes, 58-45, last night, moving to 28-0 overall. The defensive intensity was very much there for the Pioneers, who held Rhodes to a mere 7 points in the opening quarter.
Round of 32…here we come!
I’ll be paying attention to all of them, but here are a few of the best matchups (in my opinion entirely) on today’s slate….
Millikin at Transylvania, 7:45 pm EST: Millikin played very well against Emory yesterday…the CCIW champ certainly poses a threat to the hosts. But then again, Transy has been one of the nation’s most dominant teams this season.
Wartburg at Hope, 7:30 pm EST: Wartburg put together a solid defensive effort in yesterday’s win over Wartburg. Can the Knights contain the Flying Dutch?
Gustavus Adolphus at UW-Whitewater, 8:30 PM EST: Big-time midwest battle right here….MIAC vs WIAC!
Hardin-Simmons at Trinity TX, 9 pm EST: They say the third time’s the charm. This is the third meeting between these programs this season….with Trinity having won the first two.
Whitman at Chicago, 9 pm EST: By the seeding calculation done by Scott Peterson, yesterday’s win for Whitman was the largest “upset” in the first round. Can the northwest’s top team keep it going in the Windy City?
Trine at Loras, 8:30 pm EST: Not sure who to favor here….both teams are so evenly matched. Expect a tight one in this midwest showdown.
Check out all the scores and the complete Round of 32 schedule on D3hoops.com! Follow along tonight…can’t wait to see how these contests play out!