Caitlin Clark, Iowa did surprisingly.
How has January already dragged on for a couple weeks? The year is going by quickly, and before we know it, March Madness will arrive. Are you prepared to do it? So far this season, women’s college basketball has been incredibly captivating. In conference play, we have rated teams attempting to hang on for dear life, unranked teams striving to make an impression, and a generational player in Caitlin Clark who is on track to shatter the scoring record.
This weekend’s events feature one of the greatest college basketball coaches in history breaking a significant record, Clark getting closer to breaking the scoring mark, and two of the nation’s best conferences—the ACC and Pac-12—hosting games with significant tournament implications.
Conference tournament championship games
Two teams that have a real chance to be the top seeds will play in Boulder in a match that may be a preview of the conference tournament championship game. With a muscular opponent, an energetic audience, and an elevation of 5,430 feet, the CU Events Center may be the hardest place to play in the Pac-12. The difference may come in the paint because UCLA guards Kiki Rice (12.9 points) and Londynn Jones (13.3 points) can’t keep up with Buffs point guard Jaylyn Sherrod (13.8 points, 2.6 steals). If UCLA is going to steal a road victory, look for Bruins sophomore post player Lauren Betts (15.6 points, 8.6 rebounds) to have a big game.
The Utes are still licking their wounds from last week’s excruciating home defeat to No. 8 Stanford, which included more than dubious final-quarter refereeing (Stanford had a clear shot clock violation that went uncalled). Can Utah defeat Juju Watkins (26.5 points), who is presently leading the country in freshman of the year, and No. 6 USC? Or is it possible for USC to win on the road in what is likely the top league for women’s basketball this year? Without Rayah Marshall (13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds), the nation’s most underappreciated big man, USC defeated UCLA last weekend. For the Trojans, her comeback will be crucial.
This season, Caitlin Clark has sold out every Big Ten away game, and Sunday’s matchup at the Schottenstein Center won’t be any different. This game will be high-scoring since the Buckeyes, led by Jacy Sheldon (17.2 points), love to press and run. So far, Clark and the Hawkeyes have found the conference slate to be relatively easy, but Ohio State will not be afraid. In order to keep Iowa’s spotless Big Ten record intact, the team’s other perimeter scorers, Kate Martin (12.3 points) and Molly Davis (5.8 points), will need to score in double figures.
Are you a top 25 team, Tar Heels? They’ve fluctuated in and out of the top 25 this season—seven ACC teams are ranked—and suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 18 Florida State last week. They have one more chance to defeat the Cardinals, who are now leading the conference, with a convincing victory. Kiki Jefferson (12.2 points) leads a group of five Louisville players who average 8.0 points or more, but Deja Kelly (15.4 points) of UNC can take over a game at any time.
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