March 26, 2024
Postseason WNIT | 3/26/2024 10:04:14 PM
SOUTH DAKOTA 79, NORTHERN ARIZONA 65
VERMILLION, SD – South Dakota capped its rally on Tuesday with a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter, moving past Northern Arizona and into the Super 16 round of the Postseason WNIT.
The Coyotes (23-12), who won the 2016 Postseason WNIT, will play at Wyoming in the next round; that tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 29.
Grace Larkins had a career-high 34 points along with 12 rebounds for South Dakota, which was 27-for-28 from the free-throw line. Alexi Hempe scored 13 points, Nicole Avila-Ambrosi had 12 points and Carley Duffney added 11 points. The Coyotes forced 18 turnovers.
The Lumberjacks (25-10) were paced by Leia Beattie, who closed with 19 points and seven rebounds. Sophie Glancey had 13 points and seven rebounds.
MINNESOTA 77, PACIFIC 62
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Boosted by the return of two players recently sidelined by injury, Minnesota took charge early and ran past Pacific to earn a spot in the Postseason WNIT Super 16.
The Gophers (17-15) will host North Dakota State in the next round; that game is set for tipoff at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, March 29.
Minnesota started with a 10-0 run in the first two minutes; Pacific countered quickly to make it 10-8 before the Gophers again broke out and pushed the lead to 18-8. Minnesota remained in control the rest of the way, forcing 22 turnovers.
Sophie Hart, who missed the previous six games with a hip injury, scored 14 points. Also back in the lineup was Mara Braun, who’d been shelved for 11 games with a foot injury – she closed with 12 points. Mallory Heyer added 11 points, and Amaya Battle came through with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Tigers (19-15) got 14 points from Cecilia Holmberg. Anaya James scored 12 points and Liz Smith added 10 points.
SUPER 16
Wednesday, March 27
Southern Miss (20-13) at Louisiana Monroe (20-13), 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, March 28
Duquesne (21-12) at Purdue (14-18), 7 p.m. ET
Illinois State (22-11) at Wisconsin (14-16), 8 p.m. ET
Friday, March 29
Colgate (20-13) at Vermont (23-11), 6 p.m. ET
Saint Louis (19-18) at Purdue Fort Wayne (23-12), 7 p.m. ET
Troy (20-11) at North Carolina A&T (22-11), 7 p.m. ET
North Dakota State (22-11) at Minnesota (17-15), 8 p.m. E