Women's Basketball Games of the Weekend 1/21-1/22
The Big 12, Big East and Atlantic Coast Conferences dominate the weekend action, but a couple of the lower conferences have showdowns worth watching as well. After this weekend, the balance of power could be adjusted in the ACC or the Big East, while Kansas State hopes to take down the nation’s top-ranked women’s squad.
GONZAGA at SAN DIEGO (5 p.m. Saturday at Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego, California)
The West Coast Conference is one where there are several haves and several have-nots. You’re either close to the top in the standings or to the bottom. Gonzaga (16-3, 5-1) and St. Mary’s are tied for second in the WCC, a half-game behind Brigham Young. Gonzaga has won 11 of its last 12 games, including an 81-68 win over Santa Clara in its last contest. Gonzaga has lost to St. Mary’s in WCC action. San Diego (13-4, 4-1) lost 62-53 to conference leader Brigham Young but recovered for a 72-66 victory over Portland in its next contest.
No. 20 KANSAS STATE at No. 1 BAYLOR (8 p.m. Saturday at Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas)
The men had a big game earlier in the day, but the doubleheader continues for Baylor as the women’s basketball team welcomes Kansas State to Waco later in the evening. Kansas State (13-4, 4-1) and Kansas are tied for second place in the Big 12, one game behind Baylor (18-0, 5-0) in the standings. The Wildcats fell from first with a 65-57 defeat against Oklahoma in their last game. Kansas State will get another chance at Baylor on February 4, but it wants this chance to count most of all. Tasha Dickey and Jalana Childs had 18 and 16 points, respectively, in K-State’s loss. Baylor beat Texas Tech 72-64 behind Brittney Griner’s 21 points.
No. 6 CONNECTICUT at No. 21 DePAUL (8 p.m. Saturday at McGrath Arena in Chicago, Illinois)
This key Big East Conference showdown takes the Huskies out of their traditional comfort zone in Connecticut and puts them on the road. Connecticut (16-2, 5-1) has two losses to Baylor and Notre Dame but is otherwise perfect on the season. The Huskies have ramped up their game in recent weeks, thrashing North Carolina and Cincinnati in their last two contests. Tiffany Hayes recorded her 1,500th career point in the 80-37 win over Cincinnati. DePaul (15-4, 3-2) is in a tie for seventh with West Virginia and South Florida but could vault up in a hurry with a win here. The Blue Demons are coming off a heartbreaking 66-63 overtime loss against unbeaten South Florida; Anna Martin had 23 points and six rebounds in that contest.
EASTERN MICHIGAN at BOWLING GREEN (2 p.m. Sunday at Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio)
The Mid-American Conference’s divisional leaders square off in a battle that will go a long way toward deciding who the best team is overall in the MAC. Eastern Michigan (12-6, 4-1) is the leader in the MAC’s West Division, one game ahead of Toledo and Central Michigan. The team has four wins in a row to its credit, including a 73-60 win over Central Michigan. Its league loss came against Ball State, by three points. As for Bowling Green (15-3, 5-0), the MAC East leader, it just beat Miami of Ohio 61-58 and has an eight-game winning streak. The Falcons’ losses came against Dayton, Purdue and Creighton.
No. 8 MARYLAND at No. 9 DUKE (3:30 p.m. Sunday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina)
The top teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference face off at Cameron Indoor, one day after Duke’s men faced a potential ACC challenge against Florida State. Maryland (18-1, 5-1) lost to Miami 75-63 in ACC play before winning two in a row against Virginia (68-61) and Wake Forest (86-58). Tianna Hawkins had 18 points and 24 rebounds, setting a new rebound record that was previously held in 1977. Duke (15-2, 6-0) has a nine-game winning streak that includes a 79-62 win over Georgia Tech, in a game where Elizabeth Williams scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Richa Jackson had 17 points.
No. 22 LOUISVILLE at No. 15 GEORGETOWN (5 p.m. Sunday at McDonough Arena in Washington, D.C.)
While Notre Dame and Connecticut occupy the top two spots in the Big East Conference, there is a logjam of seven teams behind these two that have three or four league wins and one or two losses. These two teams are in that jam and hope to break loose thanks to a win on Sunday. Louisville and Georgetown are both 15-4 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Cardinals are 2-2 in their last four games with wins over South Florida and Providence and losses to St. John’s and Rutgers (in overtime). Freshman Bria Smith scored 12 points in the 64-48 win over Providence. Georgetown has won three of its last five, the losses coming against DePaul and Notre Dame. Sugar Rodgers netted 18 points as Georgetown beat Marquette 67-39 in its last contest.
