Striking fights across the country
The only thing better than having four fights ranked on the same day is when they have staggered start times, maximizing the consecutive number of hours I can sit on the couch watching women’s basketball.
Starting with the Big 10, the undefeated # 11 Michigan traveled to Columbus to face the # 17 Ohio State. Although it may have looked like a basketball game, it was actually Naz Hillmon’s show. The junior striker scored 50, yes, 50 points for the Wolverines in the 20/30 pitch and added 16 rebounds to guarantee.
Hillmon’s points total is the highest in Michigan basketball history, and while the record is good, his teammates have some explanations to offer, as the state of Ohio still managed to win the game 81-77. Hillmon’s unnamed Wolverines fired only 25%, including 2/20 from beyond the arc.
All Buckeye holders scored in double digits, and their next three games are all against the top 10 ranked opponents. If the state of Ohio can stay warm, they will top the conference standings next week.
It was then a less contested fight between the enemies of SEC # 22 Georgia and # 4 South Carolina. Aliyah Boston is still only a sophomore, but she may be the most dominant internal force in all of college basketball. Boston recorded a double triple with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. Why the teams are still trying to score in the painting against her is a mystery to me.
The Gamecock defense was the differential in this game, keeping the Bulldogs with just 28 points in the first three quarters. Georgia finally started shooting at the end of the game, but it was a little too late and Dawn Staley’s team won by a comfortable 12 points.
Probably the biggest rivalry in women’s basketball, Tennessee vs. UConn never fails to disappoint. The Lady Vols had a small advantage in most of the game, due in part to the poor kick of the new Paige Bueckers phenomenon.
Everything changed in fourth place, when Evina Westbrook hit two triples to give the Huskies the lead they would not lose. Westbrook is the first player to move from Tennessee to UConn, so it was appropriate for her to be the hero. Bueckers avenged his initial problems with a three dagger, putting the game out of reach with a 67-61 final.
The end of the night was between ACC’s # 1 Louisville and # 23 Syracuse. Orange kept pace with the nation’s new number one team, losing just two at halftime behind Emily Engstler’s stellar game on the bench. But in the second half the power of the Cardinals’ stars was very strong, with Dana Evans and Haley Van Lith finishing 21 and 18, respectively.
Tonight’s game to watch is at 10:00, when # 5 Stanford faces # 6 UCLA in a Pac-12 clash.
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