April 1, 2024
Postseason WNIT | 4/1/2024 9:17:44 PM
TROY 89, LOUISIANA MONROE 75
TROY, AL – Ja’Mia Hollings came through with 22 points and 16 rebounds for Troy, which claimed a 59-37 lead in rebounds and moved past fellow Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana Monroe on Monday to earn a spot in the Fab 4 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Trojans (22-11) will host Minnesota in the Fab 4; tipoff for that game is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 3.
During the regular season in the Sun Belt, Troy was 2-0 against ULM and brought a 12-game winning streak against the Warhawks into Monday’s game. Makayia Hallmon scored 19 points and was 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, and both Nia Daniel and Tai’Sheka Porchia had 14 points. Zay Dyer finished with 14 rebounds.
Daisha Bradford had 31 points for the Warhawks (21-14), and Lauren Gross scored 16 points. Brianna Harris added 10 points and eight assists. Louisiana Monroe’s Round 2 victory over Grambling State was the program’s first postseason win in 39 years.
Troy held a 42-32 lead at halftime as ULM shot just 29 percent from the field; the Trojans also enjoyed a 31-17 edge in rebounds.
VERMONT 67, PURDUE 59
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – Vermont’s Emma Utterback had 20 points and six assists,
Bella Vito had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the Catamounts dug in with another impressive defensive performance in toppling Purdue on Monday to reach the Fab 4 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Catamounts (25-11) will host Saint Louis in the Fab 4; tipoff for that game is set for 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 3.
Jeanae Terry hit a shot for Purdue with 2:32 left in the fourth quarter to pull her team within 57-55; Utterback countered with a basket at the 2:08 mark, and Vermont hit eight free throws in the final 65 seconds to secure the win.
Keira Hanson added 17 points for the Catamounts, and Anna Olson scored 14 points. Vermont was 12-for-12 in free throws and held Purdue to 38 percent shooting from the field (1-for-8 from 3-point range).
The Boilermakers (15-19) got 16 points from Abbey Ellis; Rashunda Jones scored 12 points and Mary Ashley Stevenson grabbed 13 rebounds. Terry had 11 points and finished the night with 202 career assists, breaking the program’s single-season record.
Purdue claimed a 29-23 at halftime with Vermont shooting just 32 percent from the field and the Boilermakers’ size advantage giving them a 18-10 edge in points in the paint.
SAINT LOUIS 65, WISCONSIN 60
MADISON, WI -- Senior guard Kyla McKakin notched 18 points on an efficient 6-of-12 shooting to help guide Saint Louis to a 65-60 victory over Wisconsin, earning the Billikens a berth in the Fab 4 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Billikens took control of the game early and had a 17-13 advantage after the first quarter. A strong defensive showing in the second quarter gave Saint Louis an eight-point lead heading into the halftime break. In the second half, however, Wisconsin started to find its offensive rhythm, shooting 54.5 percent from the floor and scoring 20 points in the third quarter after scoring just 22 points on 28.6 percent shooting.
Saint Louis kept pace with Wisconsin's second-half offense and maintained a lead. The Badgers erased an eight-point deficit and tied the game with 3:59 left in the contest. Battling the momentum, and the home crowd, Saint Louis showed championship poise. With the Badgers holding a 1-point lead with a minute to go, senior forward Peyton Kennedy scored her most important basket of the year, putting the Billikens back in the lead for good with 53 seconds left. Kennedy ended the night with 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting and pulled down seven boards.
Kennedy Calhoun rounded out the scoring for Saint Louis with 10 points. The Billikens will stay on the road and take on Vermont in the Fab 4 on Wednesday, April 3 at 6 p.m. ET.
MINNESOTA 65, WYOMING 54
LARAMIE, WY – Sophomore Amaya Battle rang up 29 points for Minnesota, which fought off Wyoming on its home floor Monday to earn a berth in the Fab 4 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Gophers (19-15) will travel to Troy for the next round; tipoff against the Trojans is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 3.
Battle added four assists and was 9-for-12 from the free-throw line. Sophie Hart scored 14 points and Grace Grocholski had 11 rebounds. Battle and Hart each hit shots to extend the Minnesota lead, which stood at 57-49 with 3:16 remaining. Battle applied the dagger with a made basket at 1:03, pushing the lead to 60-51. Minnesota is now 4-0 all-time versus Wyoming.
The Cowgirls (18-15) got 20 points and 11 rebounds from Allyson Fertig. The Cowgirls were outrebounded 39-31 and shot just 4-of-19 from 3-point range.
FAB 4
Wednesday, April 3
Saint Louis (20-18) at Vermont (25-11), 6 p.m. ET
Minnesota (19-15) at Troy (22-11), 7 p.m. ET