March 29, 2024
Postseason WNIT | 3/29/2024 7:51:15 PM
VERMONT 65, COLGATE 55
BURLINGTON, VT – After a rough start, Vermont held Colgate to four points in the second quarter and rode the momentum Friday for a victory in the Super 16 round of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Catamounts (24-11) will play at Purdue in the next round; that tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 1.
Sophia Diehl hit a 3-pointer for Colgate to pull her team within 59-53 with 2:54 left in the game, and Tiasia McMillan made it 59-55 with a layup at the 2:01 mark. Vermont countered with a layup by Anna Olson to make it 61-55 at 1:37 left, and two free throws by Andjela Matic sealed it with 35 seconds left.
Vermont now has 10 straight wins in series – this was the first meeting between these teams in 12 years. The Catamounts shot 51 percent from the field and had just five turnovers.
Olson scored 14 points to go with eight rebounds, Matic scored 13 points, Emma Utterback closed with 12 points and Keira Hanson added 11 points.
The Raiders (20-14) got 12 points apiece from McMillan and Madison Schiller; Alexa Brodie scored 10 points.
SAINT LOUIS 82, PURDUE FORT WAYNE 78
FORT WAYNE, IN – Peyton Kennedy tied her career high with 31 points and put the game away on a layup with 27 seconds to go Friday as Saint Louis survived a late push from Purdue Fort Wayne to earn a spot in the Great 8 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Billikens (19-18) will play at Wisconsin in the next round; that game is set for tipoff at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, April 1.
Amellia Bromenschenkel hit a 3-pointer for Purdue Fort Wayne with 2:36 left, drawing the Mastodons within 79-74, and her two free throws at the 1:27 mark cut the SLU lead to 80-76. Freshman Renna Schwieterman made two free throws for PFW, and the score stood at 80-78 with 55 seconds to go. Kennedy then hit her big shot, and a steal from Juila Martinez helped drain a little more time that the Billikens used to secure the result.
Kennedy also had nine rebounds. Kyla McMakin scored 17 points, Tierra Simon finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, Martinez came through with eight assists and Kennedy Calhoun added six steals. SLU had a 40-31 edge in rebounds and forced 19 turnovers.
The Mastodons (23-13) were an impressive 11-for-26 from 3-point range and made 13 of 14 free throws. Bromenschenkel tied her career high with 27 points and added a career-best 14 rebounds; Audra Emmerson added 15 points and Jazzlyn Linbo had 10 points.
TROY 89, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 75
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Troy Trojans showcased their highly-efficient and balanced offense to guide the team past North Carolina A&T, 89-75, and into the Great 8 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Trojans are set for a Sun Belt showdown where they will host Louisiana Monroe with a spot in the Fab 4 on the line on April 1 at 7 p.m. ET. Troy won the previous two matchups against ULM.
Four Trojans scored in double figures for a team that shot nearly 50 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range. Makayia Hallmon led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Tai’Sheka Porchia added 15 points, Ja’Mia Hollings scored 14 points and Leilani Guion notched 13 points.
Troy controlled the game right from the start, trailing for only 41 seconds on the night, and finished with a 34-21 advantage in fast break points. The Trojans were also incredibly effective at limiting North Carolina A&T’s perimeter attack, holding the Lady Aggies to just 3-of-22 shooting from 3-point range.
MINNESOTA 69, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 65
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Sophomore guard Amaya Battle hit the game-winning basket with 34 seconds to help Minnesota hold off a late surge from North Dakota State to escape with a 69-65 victory and advance to the Great 8 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Gophers led by 14 points entering the fourth quarter, but North Dakota State quickly closed the gap with a 13-0 run to begin the period to make it a one-point game. The Bison eventually had a 65-62 lead with 2:18 left in the game, but Battle refused to let her team lose. The sophomore guard hit a jumper with 1:13 left in the game to pull the team within one, and then hit the eventual game-winning basket on the following possession.
On the night, Battle finished with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, with five of those points coming in the final 1:13. Grace Gocholski led the Gophers with 16 points and knocked down 4-of-8 from 3-point range, while Mallory Heyer added a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Minnesota will travel to Wyoming to take on the Cowgirls in the Great 8 on April 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
WYOMING 84, SOUTH DAKOTA 52
LARAMIE, WY – Wyoming shot an impressive 55 percent from the field, led in rebounding by a margin of 40-32 and had just seven turnovers in a resounding victory Friday over South Dakota to earn a spot in the Great 8 of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Cowgirls (18-14) will host Minnesota in the next round; that game is set for tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Allyson Fertig had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Wyoming, which is now 22-10 all-time in the Postseason WNIT. Marta Savic scored 14 points, McKinley Dickerson had 12 points and six rebounds, Emily Mellema scored 11 points and Malene Pedersen added 10 points.
The Coyotes (23-13) saw Carley Duffney come through with 20 points and seven rebounds, and Grace Larkins added 12 points and eight rebounds.
GREAT 8
Monday, April 1
Louisiana Monroe (21-13) at Troy (21-11), 7 p.m. ET
Vermont (24-11) at Purdue (15-18), 7 p.m. ET
Saint Louis (19-18) at Wisconsin (15-16), 8 p.m. ET
Minnesota (18-15) at Wyoming (18-14), 8:30 p.m. ET