NCAA Women’s Tournament: Sweet Sixteen

The NCAA Women’s Sweet 16 is here. The regionals are set to take place in Greensboro, North Carolina; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Wichita, Kansas; and Spokane, Washington. The round-of-16 games will take place on Friday and Saturday with the round-of-8 games on Sunday and Monday. Here are the teams that compose the sweet sixteen for the first ever Women’s March Madness.

NCAA Tournament: Stanford Cardinal

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 1
• Original seed: No. 1
• 2022 NCAA tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 16 Montana State 78-37
  • Defeated Kansas 91-65

Stanford demonstrated a dynamic defense in the first round with their win over Montana State. During the first round, Francesca Belibi shined for the Cardinal with an impressive dunk, while Sunday’s star was Lexie Hull. Hull put up 36 points for Stanford. The team also gained an impressive 13 three-pointers against Kansas. Stanford has proven to be a team of diverse talent. Stanford won both games with an average of 33.5 points. The defending NCAA champion holds a  winning streak of 22 games. greater than any other team in the nation.

Up next, Stanford will take on Maryland on Friday with tip off at 9:30 p.m.

https://twitter.com/StanfordWBB/status/1505739230416277508?s=20&t=Gl9lya0TfZ4SRiA4KqrZRg

NCAA Tournament: South Carolina Gamecocks

• Sweet 16 seed: No.1
• Original seed: No. 1
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 16 Howard 79-21
  • Defeated Miami 49-33

The Gamecocks have a strong defense where they have allowed only 54 points in the past two games. With this record they have surpassed Oregon State’s record of 71 points allowed during the initial two rounds in 2016. South Carolina also leads the nation in blocked shots. However, on the other end of the court the Gamecocks are beginning to struggle. Sunday’s performance displayed what has been a weakening offense. The Gamecocks put up only 49 points against Miami and have yet to reach a field goal rate hasn’t of 40 percent from four of the last five games. With No. 310 ranking in three-point rate and a free-throw rate of 67 percent, the Gamecocks’ season long No. 1 ranking is expected to drop.

Up next, South Carolina will face off with North Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m.

It's @MarchMadnessWBB time … pic.twitter.com/pmH5v8CJLu

— GamecockWBB (@GamecockWBB) March 14, 2022

NCAA Tournament: North Carolina State Wolfpack

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 1
• Original seed: No. 1
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 16 Longwood 96-68
  • Defeated Kansas State 89-57

The Wolfpack largely relies on three-pointers and a well-balanced team. As the Wolfpack took on Kansas State during the second round, each of the eight players put up as least four points come the end of the third quarter. With All-American Elissa Cunane, only scoring four points, the team equally contributed to a 27 point lead at the start of the final quarter. North Carolina has completed 36.7 percent of three-pointers this season, ranking them at No. 10 in the country.

Up next, the Wolfpack will compete against Notre Dame on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Louisville Cardinals

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 1
• Original seed: No. 1
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 16 Albany 83-51
  • Defeated Gonzaga 68-57

The Cardinals have a phenomenal defense which is ranked No. 10 by Her Hoop Stats. The Cardinals follow behind Hailey Van Lith who has made a major comeback after putting up poor performances through the first half of the season. She averages 20.5 points per game with 50 percent shooting, showcasing an All-American level of talent.

Up next, the Cardinals will take on Tennessee on Saturday at 4 p.m.

https://twitter.com/UofLWBB/status/1503165640370274310?s=20&t=NmCErvQ5X2C4X1-DYpeguA

NCAA Tournament: UConn Huskies

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 2
• Original seed: No. 2
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 15 Mercer 83-38
  • Defeated UCF 52-47

UConn came into the match against UCF having played the knights 13 previous times winning by an average 31.7 points. However, the Knights took control on Monday, marking the closest second-round game for UConn since 1999. The Huskies’ 52 points are the lowest of the season as they struggled with missed layups and a low 29.2 percent from the field. The Huskies played the final five minutes without scoring and fouled out two of their players. The Knights could have won had they not given away 20 turnovers and missed 50 percent of their free throws.

Up next, UConn takes on Indiana on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Texas Longhorns

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 2
• Original seed: No. 2
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 15 Fairfield 70-52
  • Defeated Utah 78-56

Texas is led by two star freshmen, Rori Harmon and Aaliyah Moore. Moore put up 18 and 21 points for the first two rounds, her two highest-scoring games. Harmon had 19 assists in the two games with a prior 20-point game in the Big 12 championship. Texas has an incredible defense that has been ranked No. 8 by Her Hoops Stats. However, the Longhorns have discovered a phenomenal offense as well, averaging a high 77 ppg since they entered the Big 12.

Up next for the Longhorns is Ohio State on Friday at 7 p.m.

Indiana Hoosiers

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 2
• Original seed: No. 3
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 14 Charlotte 85-51
  • Defeated Princeton 56-55

The Hoosiers barely outlasted Princeton. Princeton made a major comeback by erasing a 14-point third-quarter deficit and came within a possession of becoming the first Ivy League team to make the Sweet 16. With a layup by Grace Berger and a steal by Ali Patberg, they gave Indiana their second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. Indiana’s starters all average in the double digits. Berger leads the team with 14 ppg. She led on Monday with 15.

Up next for the Hoosiers is UConn on Saturday at 2 p.m.

https://twitter.com/IndianaWBB/status/1507390099327275008?s=20&t=BgwGIwiIgJsl2ke8Ou3oAA

NCAA Tournament: Michigan Wolverines

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 2
• Original seed: No. 3
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 14 American 74-39
  • Defeated Villanova 64-49

With a three-pointer from Maddie Nolan and a layup from Naz Hillmon Michigan secured the lead and clinched their second straight Sweet 16 appearance. The Wolverines are led by Hillmon who gained her 50th career double-double with 27 points and 11 rebounds. The team is also led by star Leigha Brown who put up 18 points and is the second-leading scorer for the team.

Up next, South Dakota, Saturday, 6:30 p.m.

Iowa State Cyclones

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 3
• Original seed: No. 3
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 14 UT Arlington 78-71
  • Defeated Georgia 67-44

The Cyclones have strong shooting as they lead the nation in three-point rate at 38.9 percent and 81 percent. Iowa is No. 13 in defensive rebounding and No. 3 in free throw rate defense.

Up next for Iowa is Creighton, Friday, 9:30 p.m.

Maryland Terrapins

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 3
• Original seed: No. 4
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 13 Delaware 102-71
  • Defeated Florida Gulf Coast 89-65

The Terrapins follow behind Ashley Owusu, Diamond Miller and Angel Reese. The big three combined for 65 points against FGCU. The team is the second-highest scoring in the tournament.

Up next is Stanford on Friday, 9:30 p.m.

24 hours #TheMi22ion pic.twitter.com/xHiq6PRCwG

— Maryland Women’s Basketball (@TerpsWBB) March 25, 2022

NCAA Tournament: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 3
• Original seed: No. 5
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 12 UMass 89-78
  • Defeated Oklahoma 108-64

The 44-point defeat over the Sooners tied for the largest margin ever by a top-four seed in NCAA tournament history.  Dara Mabrey recorded seven three-pointers and 29 points, followed by Sonia Citron at 25 points and Maya Dodson with 20 points.

Up next is NC State on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

South Dakota Coyotes

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 3
• Original seed: No. 10
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 7 Ole Miss 75-61
  • Defeated Baylor 61-47

The Coyotes ranked No. 9 nationally this season in points allowed per game. Chloe Lamb and Hannah Sjerven have been conference stars as Lamb is this year’s player of the year and Sjerven is a two-time defensive player of the year.

Up next is Michigan on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 4
• Original seed: No. 4
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 13 Buffalo 80-67
  • Defeated Belmont 70-67

The Lady Vols defeated Belmont with freshman Sara Puckett shooting a buzzer beating three. The Lady Vols have reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016. They follow behind Alexus Dye who gained 38 points and 22 rebounds in the two games.

Up next is Louisville on Saturday at 4 p.m.

https://twitter.com/LadyVol_Hoops/status/1507440079823949829?s=20&t=Ir73iDd5H_O0cDMNYQaclg

NCAA Tournament: North Carolina Tar Heels

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 4
• Original seed: No. 5
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 12 Stephen F. Austin 79-66
  • Defeated Arizona 63-45

North Carolina is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. The Tar Heels Defense won the game in Tucson where they held the Wildcats to only 17 points at halftime.

Up next for North Carolina is South Carolina, Friday, 7 p.m.

Ohio State Buckeyes

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 4
• Original seed: No. 6
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 11 Missouri State 63-56
  • Defeated LSU 79-64

Ohio was the sixth-highest scorer in the nation this season. However, the win over Missouri State was all on the defense. The offense returned against LSU, led by  Jacy Sheldon (23 points) and Taylor Mikesell (18 points). Mikesell is the second-most accurate three-point shooter in the nation.

Up next is Texas on Friday at 7 p.m.

Creighton Bluejays

• Sweet 16 seed: No. 4
• Original seed: No. 10
• 2022 tournament record:
  • Defeated No. 7 Colorado 84-74
  • Defeated Iowa 64-62

The Bluejays are an exceptional offensive team and are No. 8 in the nation in points per 100 possessions and No. 4 in effective field goal percentage. The Bluejays held the Hawkeyes to their lowest score all year. Iowa transfer Lauren Jensen is big in the news as she shot the game-winning score for Creighton.

Up next is Iowa State on Friday at 9:30 p.m.