March Madness has begun, and already there have been many intense highlights. The opening stretch of the NCAA Women’s Tournament concluded earlier this Monday, with eight teams advancing. Many devastating and entertaining highlights and moments occurred, including catastrophic injuries, unexpected blowouts, and new game records. The expected teams, including UConn, Texas, NC State, and Oklahoma, won. However, Maryland and Alabama concluded with an exciting double-overtime victory. Lastly, LSU and UNC also advanced to the Sweet 16.
Mondays Results:
Here are the Final Scores of Each Team:
NC State 83, Vs. Michigan State 49
Texas 65 Vs Illinois 48
Oklahoma 96, Iowa 62
Maryland 111 Vs Alabama 108
LSU 101, Vs Florida State 71
North Carolina 58, Vs. West Virginia 47
Uconn 91, Vs South Dakota 57
USC 96, Vs Missipippi State 59
Juju Watkins Torn ACL
The final game of the night was devastating when sophomore Juju Watkins, a star player on the USC team, went down with a catastrophic knee injury. It was later confirmed that it was her ACL that was torn. She is now out for the season. This moment was heartbreaking for USC fans. USC later released a statement saying, “She will undergo surgery and then begin rehabilitation shortly thereafter.” It can take up to six months of physical therapy before one can return to the court.
The First NCAA Tournament in History Where Six Teams Scored 100+ Points in a Single Round
In the first round of the NCAA tournament, six teams surpassed more than 100 points in the first round, setting a tournament record for a single round. The teams were South Carolina, Tennessee, Notre Dame, UConn, Texas, and LSU. The most significant point getter was UConn, scoring 103-34 against Arkansas State. The rest were:
Duke 86 Vs Lehigh 25
South Carolina 108 Vs Tennessee Tech 48
LSU 103 Vs San Diego State 48
Notre Dame 106 Vs Stephen F. Austin 54
USC 71 Vs UNC Greensboro 25
Kansas State 85, Vs. Fairfield 41
Texas 105 Vs William & Mary 61
UCLA 84 Vs Southern 46
Last Home Game for Senior Paige Bueckers
After concluding the first round, it was UConn’s star player Paige Bueckers’s final home game, and she made her mark by tying her career high. After the first three quarters of playing, Beuckers sat at 30 points. Geno Aurlemma, the UConn head coach, was about to let Bueckers sit out the last few plays until he changed his mind and threw Bueckers into the game with six minutes remaining. Bueckers scored one basket, leaving her with 32 points, until Aurlemma once again took her out, Bueckers with just 5 minutes remaining. With the final minutes remaining, Bueckers was interested for the final time, and she scored another basket to tie her career high.
Afterward, Bueckers was taken out of the game with a standing ovation from the crowd. Many were emotional as Bueckers played her final home game of her college career. Finally, she finished the night with 34 points, four assists, four steals, and three rebounds.
Overall, these are just some highlights and special moments from this year’s NCAA tournament first round. Stay tuned for the next round!
