Bridgeport Region Sweet Sixteen Game Breakdowns
#1 Connecticut vs. #5 Mississippi State
Duquesne gave Connecticut a bit of a battle for the first quarter before the Huskies started to dominate and pull away for a 46-point victory. Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck scored 20 points each and Breanna Stewart scored 21 and added 16 rebounds. Unlike in the first round against Robert Morris, those big three each played at least 34 minutes against the Dukes. Mississippi State needed an unlikely three-pointer from Breanna Richardson to slip past Michigan State. The junior forward only hit two three-pointers all season before she knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer with 34 seconds left.
It will take a bigger surprise for the Bulldogs to beat Connecticut. Mississippi State has to go away from their home court and go into Connecticut’s back yard in Bridgeport. Victoria Vivians scored 24 points against Michigan State and the pressure will be on her to knock down shots and have a big game offensively. But Connecticut is still too talented to lose at this stage of the NCAA Tournament. Mississippi State is a tough team defensively and that is where they can keep things interesting. The Lady Bulldogs do not lose by large margins very often and this is a team that lost to South Carolina by just six points back in January. It will take a similar defensive effort to not get blown out by the Huskies.
Texas did not get much scoring from 6-7 center Imani Boyette against Missouri, but she still played tough defense and hit the glass effectively. It was guard Ariel Atkins who spearheaded the offensive attack against Mizzou, scoring 22 points and connecting on nine of her 13 shots. UCLA barely survived a tough game against South Florida. The Bulls did what they needed to do to beat the Bruins, but UCLA, led by Jordin Canada’s 19 points, were able to stave off the Bulls’ comeback attempt.
This is an interesting matchup between two programs that are looking to become serious national contenders. Both teams have talented backcourts and a lot of size. Monique Billings facing off against Boyette will be a great matchup in the paint. If those two cancel each other out, the play of the backcourt would make all of the difference. The Bruins boast a talented trio with Canada, Nirra Fields and Kori Korver. Those three can score every way possible and they will be difficult for Texas to matchup with. But, of course, the Longhorns have Atkins and Brooke McCarty who can do plenty of scoring of their own. The winner of this one will likely have to go up against Connecticut, but this will be a great program building win for one of these teams. And maybe that win will give them enough momentum to give Connecticut a run for their money in the Elite Eight.
Dallas Region Sweet 16 Game Breakdowns
Lexington Region Sweet 16 Game Breakdowns
Sioux Falls Region Sweet 16 Game Breakdowns
