Dallas Region Elite Eight Game Breakdown
#1 Baylor vs. #2 Oregon State
Baylor systematically dominated a very good Florida State team 78-58 in the first game of the Dallas Regional. The Bears controlled the game in all aspects throughout and they were never really in danger of becoming the third number one seed to fall this weekend. Defensively, Baylor forced 21 turnovers and limited the Seminoles to just 35 percent shooting. Offensively, Nina Davis was brilliant, scoring 30 points thanks to 12-of-18 shooting from the floor. Florida State did not have an answer for her all game long. Niya Johnson outplayed Leticia Romero in a battle of two of the best point guards in women’s college basketball. Johnson scored eight points and dished out eight assists while playing all 40 minutes. Alexis Jones continued her excellent NCAA Tournament by scoring 15 points and she caused a ton of havoc defensively by collecting nine rebounds and five steals.
The Bears head into the Dallas Regional final against Oregon State with a ton of confidence and momentum as they now have won 23 straight games. They will have an advantage of fan support in Dallas, along with the experience advantage of playing on the Elite Eight stage in the past. However, this will arguably be the best inside-outside combination that Baylor has seen this season. Ruth Hamblin is going to be a challenge for Beatrice Nompremier down in the post and Sydney Wiese and Jamie Weiner will test Niya Johnson and Alexis Jones in the backcourt and then some. So it will be very important to maintain a high level of patience against the Beavers as there will be stretches offensively that will be more challenging than normal for the Bears. Defensively, they just have to do what they do best and that is relentlessly guard and minimize easy shots for Oregon State.
The Beavers stepped up onto the Sweet 16 stage against DePaul and rose to the occasion with an 83-71 win over the Blue Demons. Jamie Weisner was on fire offensively scoring 38 points, including seven three-pointers. After a very competitive first half where Oregon State led at halftime 45-38, the message for the Beavers was simple from head coach Scott Rueck and that was to crank it up a notch. Message received…Oregon State got Hamblin rolling offensively with seven third quarter points and they were able to stretch their lead out to 62-49 after three quarters. Another key to victory for the Beavers was their ability to use their size to their advantage. They outrebounded DePaul 42-31, led by Deven Hunter, who collected 12 rebounds. The ability to guard the Blue Demons without having to play much help defense was a difference maker as well on Saturday as they were able to limit DePaul to only 11 made three pointers.
Looking ahead to the matchup with Baylor, it will be very important for the Beavers to do what they do best and that is play efficient offensive basketball and disciplined defensive basketball that will male life very difficult for the Bears for 40 minutes. This group has gone through a lot of adversity over their careers and Weisner and Hamblin survived a ten game losing streak in conference play as freshmen to get this Oregon State program to the Elite Eight. If Weisner and Wiese can get rolling from the perimeter, that will open things up for Hamblin and Hunter down low which will test the youthful post players of Baylor. The combination of these two things, along with the gauntlet of the Pac-12 conference, should set the Beavers up to battle the Bears in what could end up being the most dramatic regional final of them all.
Bridgeport Region Elite Eight Game Breakdown
Lexington Region Elite Eight Game Breakdown
Sioux Falls Region Elite Eight Game Breakdowns
