Duke Blue Devils Win their First ACC Tournament Title in 12 Years
The Duke Blue Devils (#3) win their first ACC championship in 12 years beating (#1) NC State 76-52. This was the first ACC title win for head coach Kara Lawson who took over the helm at Duke in 2020. Lawson becomes the third-consecutive Black coach to win the ACC tournament title following Kenny Brooks who won it in 2023 with Virginia Tech, and Niele Ivey who led Notre Dame to the title in 2022.
The game was a tale of two halves. The Wolfpack started the game on a hot streak leading the first half due to the scoring from Aziaha James, Saniya Rivers, and Zoe Brooks. The Wolfpack went into the the half 36-29, and holding Duke to shooting just 36% from the field. James did go down with a serious injury scare right before the half where she had to be escorted off the court, but returned in the third quarter.
However, coming out of the half, Duke made the adjustments shooting 55.2% in the second half, holding the Wolfpack to 32.3% shooting, and causing them to commit 16 turnovers. Additionally, Duke scored 26 points in the paint and had 33 points from their bench.
For the Blue Devils, Okananwa led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds matching a career high, supported by Ashlon Jackson who added 22 points and six rebounds in the win. Both Okananwa and Jackson were named to the All-Tournament First Team with Okananwa earning MVP honors. James, Rivers, and Brooks all were named to the All-Tournament First Team for the Wolfpack.
After the game head coach Kara Lawson said, “Just incredibly proud of our team and what they were able to accomplish, not just in this game but over the course of the tournament for us. We faced some of the best teams in the country three days in a row.”
UCLA Capitalizes on Trojans Stale Second Half to Take Big 10 Title Game
All signs pointed to USC running away with the Big 10 title through the first half with JuJu Watkins walking into halftime with 18 points and five boards, and more importantly USC held UCLA center Lauren Betts to four points. USC led UCLA 45-35 at the half.
Again, the Trojans led by as many as 13 in the third quarter, but then their offense started to dry up as UCLA came alive thanks to the dominance of Betts who scored 13 points in the paint in the second half, as well as four blocked shots. UCLA also stepped up their defensive efforts, causing USC to commit eight turnovers in the second half.
For the Trojans, they seemed frustrated and run down towards the end of the game, scoring their first points in the fourth quarter with a minute remaining on the clock. Despite the loss, Watkins scored 29 points, and surpassed Caitlin Clark to become second on the list of the most points by a women’s college basketball player through their first two seasons, behind Kelsey Mitchell.
For the Bruins, this was the first 30 win season in program history and the first conference championship title in 19 seasons. Betts was awarded All-Conference Team Honors, alongside title game opponents Watkins and Kiki Iriafen.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 09: Members of the UCLA Bruins celebrating winning the Big Ten … [+]
From Last to First, Hornfrogs Win Big 12 Tournament Title
The TCU Hornfrogs led by Hailey Van Lith held on to defeat the Baylor Bears to win the Big 12 Conference Tournament title adding to their regular season title today, 64-59. Van Lith, the league’s MVP, Newcomer of the Year, and tournament MVP had 20 points in the game rallying from scoring just four points in first half to score 16 in second half. Van Lith also had three assists, three rebounds, and shot 10-for-10 from the charity strip. Van Lith has competed in four conference title games over the span of her career, but this was the first time the title didn’t evade her.
Van Lith was assisted by three teammates in double digits starting with Sedona Prince who had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Donovyn Hunter and Madison Conner with 11 points each. Despite the loss, Baylor’s Aaronette Vonleh scored 20 points, Sarah Andrews assisted with 13 points, and Yaya Fielder added 12 points.
For head coach Mark Campbell, two years ago when he inherited the squad they were the worst team in the league, followed by having to hold open walk-on tryouts to fill roster spots due to mid-season injuries during the 2023-2024 season. However, for the transformation this year, Campbell was named Big 12 Coach of the Year, alongside his team’s most recent accolades. Most notably, TCU will go to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 15 years.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 09: Sedona Prince #13 of the TCU Horned Frogs hoist the trophy while … [+]
Dawn Staley and Gamecocks Three-Peat for SEC Tournament Title
The Gamecocks knock off the Texas Longhorns to win their third straight SEC tournament title, 64-45. South Carolina was led by scoring from the tournament MVP in junior Chloe Kitts with 15 points and nine rebounds, Tessa Johnson who had 14 points, and Sania Feagin and Joyce Edwards had 11 points a piece.
Not only was the multi-player scoring threat of South Carolina an issue for the Longhorns but the Gamecocks defense caused Texas to turn the ball over 11 times, and shoot just 30% for the game.
After the game, Staley applauded her team for being able “to be challenged like the way that we have in our losses we have gotten better, and they have handled it, they have handled it like real champions.” She went on to say,”this league prepares you for these moments, it prepares you to create good habits, good habits that have to show up on championship Sunday. For the most part, I think our habits have been really good showing up on this particular day.”
Despite the loss for Texas, the Longhorns are still expected to join the Gamecocks as as a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. South Carolina’s win today was the ninth SEC tournament championship, second most, of any SEC team behind Tennessee, who has 17.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 09: Chloe Kitts #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks is honored as … [+]
Other Notable Conference Titles from Around the Country
South Dakota State wins the Summit League tournament championship beating Oral Roberts 84-68. The Jack Rabbits are 21 time Summit League champions and this was the 13th time that they have won the league title in the last 17 years.
UNC Greensboro take down the Chattanooga Mocs 64-57 in the SoCon to take the title and move on to the NCAA tournament. This is only the second time in program history (last time, 1998) and first time under head coach Trina Patterson that the Spartans have earned an automatic bid.
George Mason Patriots win their first Atlantic 1o title in program history and punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament defeating St. Joseph’s 73-58.
High Point University defeats the Longwood Lancers to win the Big South tournament championship 59-53 and advance to the NCAA tournament.
Tennessee Tech will be moving on to the NCAA tournament out of the Ohio Valley Conference by default as Lindenwood was ruled ineligible.
Additional conferences will see their tournaments start or conclude over the next several days or into next week: American East, American Athletic, ASUN, Big East, Big West, Coastal Athletic Association, Conference USA, Horizon League, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Northeast, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt, West Coast, and Western Athletic Conference.
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