12 best female college basketball players

Even before South Carolina took the floor at the Gampel Pavilion on Monday for a showdown with UConn, Gamecocks are back where they started this season: first in the Associated Press’s Top 25. team that won the Cardinals – then-No. 4 NC State – dropping to North Carolina on Sunday, South Carolina climbed to number one in this week’s poll.

Regardless of the classification, UConn coach Geno Auriemma already knows how difficult this game will be for his Huskies, who have moved up to second place. And much of that will be faced by South Carolina, 1.85 meters tall, after the runner-up, Aliyah Boston and the Gamecocks defense.

“I think Aliyah has improved a lot since the last year of high school to where he is today,” said Auriemma. “Her handling of the ball, her shooting, her decision making with the ball, defensively – I just think she is playing at a very high level now. And I don’t see anyone who has played in that position better than she has since the season started , that’s right. “

Auriemma also praised her 1.80 meter striker Olivia Nelson-Ododa for her complete game in Friday’s 87-58 victory over Marquette.

The top five clash on Monday will include a number of other intriguing clashes, including how freshman UConn guards, Paige Bueckers and Nika Mühl, respond to the best perimeter defense they have faced so far, led by second-graders Zia Cooke and Brea Beal and the Júnior Destanni Henderson.

UConn allowed Arkansas, another SEC opponent, to shoot 51.6% of the field in a 90-87 defeat on January 28. Will UConn’s defense show much growth since then? Or will the Gamecocks’ defense rule give the show its first road victory against UConn and its second overall victory against the Huskies after last season’s revelation series victory in Columbia, South Carolina?

That’s what Boston – who had 13 points and 12 rebounds against the Huskies last February – will look for. She is part of what we will call the defensive dozen: 12 of the best players in the country on that side of the ball.

Best defending posts

Aliyah Boston, South Carolina: It is not only her prodigious physical talents, but also the way she communicates. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said that Boston is “always talking, always understanding what our opponents are doing. She sees that it’s really useful for all the players she’s on the field with, so she speaks louder, it’s more active. ” The striker has an average of 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.

Kamilla Cardoso, Syracuse, center: She’s just a freshman, but the 1.80 m pivot has already made a big impact. She leads Orange in scoring (15.3 points per game), rebound (8.7) and blocks. Its 3.1 blocks per game place it among the top 10 in the country and it alters many other strokes. She is the only freshman among the 10 finalists for the Lisa Leslie Award that honors the best center in the nation.

Charli Collier, Texas: Playing for Vic Schaefer helped Collier put more value on his defense, and this is one of the many aspects of his game that she has improved this season. Collier does not block many shots like some centers (she has 19 this season), but helps to anchor the defense from the inside and has an average of 12.4 rebounds to go with 21.9 points per game on the offensive side.

N’dea Jones, Texas A&M: She is one of those players who has a nose for the ball and, when the Aggies need a big rebound, it is usually the striker who succeeds. Jones has an average of 10.8 rebounds per game, and she has had two games this season in which she grabbed 18 boards. At 6 ft-2, Jones’ length and speed also help in his versatility in defense.

Natasha Mack, State of Oklahoma: Mack became the leader of the school’s career block (177) on Saturday, in just his 46th game for the Cowgirls. A junior transfer to college, Mack averages 4.2 blocks per game, the best division I, and the attacker’s ability to defend guards also increases his elite status. She also averages 19.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.

Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA: The striker is under 2 meters, but that does not stop Onyenwere from defending post players bigger than her. It is not just your athleticism, but your tenacity that helps. The senior has an average of 8.8 rebounds per game, the record of his career. It is a big reason why the Bruins, generally best known for their attack, are also in the upper half of the Pac-12 on defense (58.8 PPG allowed).

Best Perimeter Defenders

Veronica Burton, Northwest The current defensive player of the year, Big Ten, remains one of the country’s best perimeter defenders. With an average of 4.2 steals per game, she leads the Big Ten and ranks second in Division I (and first among Power 5 conference players). Burton is also leading the Wildcats in scoring (17.9 PPG) and assists (4.9 APG).

Aari McDonald, Arizona: She is not only one of the leaders of the Pac-12 in goals (18.8) and assists (4.8), but also in steals (2.5). Like Burton, McDonald’s has a defensive blocking ability and its energy supplies Arizona. The Wildcats are on a break at COVID-19, but are set to face Oregon on Monday (ESPN2 / ESPN App, 7 pm Eastern time) in their first game since January 22.

Chasity Patterson, Kentucky: She leads the SEC – always known for excellent perimeter defenders – in steals at 3.5 per game, which is tied for fourth in Division I. Patterson is also second in the scoring team (12.6 PPG) and leads the Wildcats in assists (3.2 AGP). Coach Kyra Elzy said she is tougher on her point guard than anyone on the team, but Patterson is responding with a better career season.

DiDi Richards, Baylor: Last year’s defensive national player, 1.80m Richards is always very disturbing on the perimeter with her length and lateral movement. Coach Kim Mulkey said that Richards is one of the best defenders she coached: “She works for this. To be a great defender, it has to be inside your soul. It has to be a personal thing. A lot of that is just a desire to do it. “

Mykasa Robinson, Louisville: She started only seven games this season, but makes this list the quintessence of the “doing the little things” player, whose calling card is the defense. Louisville star Dana Evans credits Robinson for bringing fragility to what is perennially one of the ACC’s main defenses. Robinson has played 35 and 32 minutes in Louisville’s last two games, getting eight rebounds in each.

Anna Wilson, Stanford: Coach Tara VanDerveer often says after games how Wilson is the key to the cardinal’s defense. The fifth-year veteran became a full-time starter thanks to her defense; she credits her experience and preparation. This is one of the Cardinal’s best defensive teams; they lead Pac-12 in scoring defense (54.2 PPG) and have kept four of their last five opponents below 50 points.

Weekly superlatives

Player of the week: Dana Evans, Louisville

Yes, the Cardinals are expected to fall from first place in the ranking after their first loss of the season, but Evans was brilliant in that game and in Louisville’s victories over Boston College and Notre Dame. The current ACC player of the year averaged 26.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. And as she showed again with her five points in the final minutes of the 71-65 victory over the Irish, the decisive time is Evans’ time.

Screams also to Caitlin Clark of Iowa (30, 30) and Paige Bueckers of UConn (32, 30), freshman guards who hit the 30-point mark twice.

Team of the week: Northwestern

The Wildcats defeated Ohio State No. 11 with a strong defensive effort, keeping the Buckeyes with 57 points, their second lowest total this season. Veronica Burton lost a triple-double with 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Northwestern followed with a 63-60 victory in Michigan, with Burton scoring 19 points and fellow guard Lindsey Pulliam 22. The Wildcats won seven of their last eight.

Coach of the week: Aaron Johnston, South Dakota

Both Jackrabbits number 23 and rival South Dakota reached their consecutive weekend games unbeaten in the Summit League. But South Dakota won 64-45 on Friday and 80-75 on Saturday (both games were at Jackrabbits’ Frost Arena). Junior striker Myah Selland continued his excellent season with 43 points and 10 assists. And Johnston – who is in his 21st season in Brookings, South Dakota – continues to roll. His team has lost just five conference games in the past three years and, with 8-0, trying to dominate the table this season.

Victory of the week: North Carolina

Wearing a dark blue, not Carolina blue, outfit at home on Sunday – they looked elegant – Tar Heels defeated the team that eliminated team # 1 last Monday. In a game of great rivalry, North Carolina won an important victory for its NCAA tournament hopes, taking down No. 4 NC State 76-69. The Tar Heels still have some work to do, as they are 9-8 and lost six of seven before Sunday. But this is a good victory to have on the curriculum.