Sioux Falls Region Round of 64 Game Breakdowns
#1 South Carolina vs. #16 Jacksonville
Coach Dawn Staley should have a very healthy and well rested team for this first round game. A’ja Wilson has really stepped her game up as a sophomore and is starting to live up to the billing she had coming out of high school. Tiffany Mitchell and Alaina Coates should be too much as well for Jacksonville as they will provide a nice inside-outside combination offensively. The Dolphins are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and they should be sky high to play the Gamecocks.
#8 George Washington vs. #9 Kansas State
This will be a fun matchup between the Colonials and Wildcats. Jonquel Jones of George Washington is the type of WNBA caliber player you need as a mid-major if you are to cause problems in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas State is battled tested from the Big 12 gauntlet and will not be surprised by the skills that Jones brings. The Wildcats will need big performances from Breanna Lewis and Kindred Wesemann in order for them to advance on for a shot at South Carolina.
Florida has quietly had a nice season thanks to a total team effort at both ends of the floor as they don’t have one dominant scorer. Ronni Williams is the leading scorer for the Gators with a 11.0 points per game scoring average. They also do a great job of causing turnovers as they are averaging 12.8 steals per game. Albany is led by Shereesha Richards and they will test Florida in this contest as the Great Danes had near misses earlier this year against power five schools like USC and Tennessee. This game could go down to the wire.
The Orange are happy to be hosting at the Carrier Dome instead of having to go away in this first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Alexis Peterson and Brianna Butler have the talent and experience in the backcourt to push Syracuse along for a nice run in the NCAA Tournament. Army is led by Kelsey Minato who is one of the top mid-major players in the country and is one of those players that can put a team on her back and carry them if necessary. Look for this game to get to the second half in the balance but the Orange will pull away for the win.
#6 West Virginia vs. #11 Princeton
West Virginia brings its usual relentless tough defensive minded approach to the NCAA Tournament once again under head coach Mike Carey. Bria Holmes who was a unanimous All- Big 12 selection guard brings a great deal of experience and talent as a senior to the table. It’s the type of experience and talent that a team needs if its going to go on a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Princeton earned an at-large bid out of the Ivy League which is a testament to the job done by head coach Courtney Banghart. The Tigers are led by sharp shooter Michelle Miller who is averaging 14.1 points per game and is shooting nearly 44 percent from three-point range. This should be a down to the wire classic.
#3 Ohio State vs. #14 Buffalo
The Buckeyes are going to play as fast as they possibly can in this opening round matchup against Buffalo. Kelsey Mitchell is one of the top scorers in the country at any position as she is averaging over 25 points per game. Ameryst Alston, Shayla Cooper, and Alexa Hart also average in double figures scoring the basketball so there is plenty of balance offensively. Defensively, the pressure is what will eventually wear the Bulls down. Buffalo will continue to need to Joanna Smith to lead the way offensively and score about 30 in this contest to keep the Bulls within striking distance in the second half.
In what will be somewhat unchartered waters for Tennessee as a number seven seed in the NCAA Tournament it will be interesting to see how they respond. The Lady Vols have talent but it has struggled to come together at the offensive end of the court. Green Bay has just consistently taken care of business in the Horizon League and risen up the ranks respect wise as a mid-major. They are led by Allie LeClaire in the backcourt and will look to pull off the small upset by knocking off Tennessee and further raising questions about the direction of that program.
#2 Arizona State vs. #15 New Mexico State
Arizona State should have little trouble dispatching New Mexico State as the Sun Devils are ferocious on their home floor when it comes to defense. Katie Hempen leads a very experienced backcourt and the difference should be Sophie Brunner and Quinn Dornstauder down in the post as they can be very dominant when everything is clicking on all cylinders.
